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An heir is born
Prince Charles was born on the night of November 14, 1948. At 7lbs 6oz, the Prince was proclaimed “the ideal weight”. Crowds gathered outside the Palace chanting, “We want Philip!” When nothing happened, they stood in the rain singing lullabies.
The Prince’s birth brought cheer to post-war Britain: More than 4,000 messages of congratulations poured into the Palace; newspapers heralded the Royal birth, the lights in the fountains in Trafalgar Square were changed to blue, troops in ceremonial dress fired salutes, flags flew and peals of bells rang out from Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s.
Descriptions of the baby’s room and fittings, his daily feeding and bathing routine and speculation about his name filled the press. On December 16, the Archbishop of Canterbury baptised the baby Charles Philip Arthur George.