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Long wait rewarded with right royal view

"I couldn't believe they came out of that door," says Terry Hutt, 78, who camped outside the Lindo Wing entrance for 13 days to see the royal baby.

Long wait rewarded with right royal view
Terry Hutt has become semi-famous for camping out for 13 days to catch a glimpse of the royal baby.

2 min read

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Source: AAP


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A lot of royal fans are so fanatical it can be a little unsettling chatting to them.

But 78-year-old Terry Hutt, who has become semi-famous after camping out for 13 days to catch a glimpse of Kate and William's baby, is a charmer.

The Cambridge carpenter - who now does volunteer work "for the elderly" - has been a constant presence outside St Mary's Hospital in London.

He dresses loudly in a Union Jack suit and tie, but as a man, he's softly spoken and thoughtful.

On Tuesday, the crowd of well-wishers and journalists gathered outside the private Lindo Wing made sure the quiet royal watcher had a front row position when Britain's future king was carried outside in Kate's arms.

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"At first when I saw the youngster it was wonderful," Terry told AAP, adding his view was "excellent".

"I couldn't believe they came out of that door. It was really great.

"It wasn't a waste of time."

When he says "it" Terry is referring to the 13 days he spent waiting - first for the Duchess of Cambridge to give birth and then for the bub to be shown off.

He's slept on a park bench opposite the Lindo Wing at night and members of the public and police officers have delivered him sandwiches during the day.

"It's always worth it for the royals," he said.

"Give it a bit more time, we'll see another baby and I will be there for another 13 days."

Terry is sure Prince William and Kate are a happy couple. He can see in their eyes they love each other.

The carpenter is himself married.

Twelve hours after Kate was admitted to hospital on Monday morning - but before news she'd had a boy broke - Terry had ditched the suit and was down to Union Jack board shorts and T-shirt.

It was London's hottest day since 2006.

And just like hundreds of hot and bothered reporters gathered in Paddington, one of Terry's most pressing problems was finding a power-point in the nearby Starbucks to recharge his mobile.

"I think my wife has called," he told AAP.


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