His Royal Highness George Alexander Louis, Prince of Cambridge was welcomed into the world yesterday at 4:24pm in London, England. “We could not be happier,” the 31-year-old William said in a statement
The future heir to the throne received his first official welcome with a 41-gun salute fired in London’s Green Park, next to Buckingham Palace, with 62 shots fired from a cannon at the Tower of London. Trafalgar Square’s fountains will be lit up in blue for the next seven days, while the London Eye will glow in the colors of the Union Jack.
Minutes after the announcement of birth yesterday, the baby’s grandfather, Prince Charles, issued a statement of his own: “Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine, and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy. Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”
The Center for Retail Research in Nottingham, England, estimates that the happy event will boost baby-related retail sales by 243 million pounds, or $368 million at current exchange, in the nine weeks to Aug. 31, as the world celebrates with books and media, souvenirs and toys.
WWD asked designers what gift they would give the royal baby. These one-of-a kind gifts are fit for a future king. Karl Lagerfeld explained that he calls his illustration of a pacifier a “royal dummy,” as it is commonly referred to in England.
Dior was so inspired, it created an entire collection for WWD around the idea of a royal baby gift. “Like fairies leaning over a cradle, Baby Dior was inspired by Mr. Dior’s lucky charms to adorn the future newborn’s outfits,” the house said. “Cashmere knitting, coming in a beautiful leather suitcase, was twisted with four-leaf clovers to keep the baby warm. Each piece, embellished with embroideries and lace, was delicately handmade, requiring hours of work.”
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- Vera Wang
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- Vera Wang’s rattle.
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- Trina Turk
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- Trina Turk
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- “A classic pram made with love” by Pam Skaist-Levy and Gela Nash-Taylor.
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- Rebecca Taylor’s rocking horse.
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- Sachin + Babi
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- Sachin + Babi’s “Kate Middleton” bibs.
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- Nicole Miller’s Union Jack quilt.
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- A “baby carriage for HRH” by Nanette Lepore.
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- Lisa Perry’s romper.
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- A colorblock bike with a Moses basket by Lela Rose.
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- Huishan Zhang’s 12 stuffed toy tigers —one for each month — symbolize courage and intelligence.
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- Karl Lagerfeld’s pacifier, or “dummy” as it can be referred to in England.
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- Josie Natori’s onesie.
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- Dior’s Petits Bonheurs Collection
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- Dior’s Petits Bonheurs Collection
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- Dior’s Petits Bonheurs Collection
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- DSquared2’s royal punk baby.
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- Kenneth Cole’s baby carriage in the shape of a shoe.
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- Cynthia Vincent’s elbow-patched sweater.
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- A teddy bear and matching throne by David Meister.
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- Dior’s Petits Bonheurs Collection made for the royal baby: “Dior wishes a happy life to the future Prince of Cambridge”
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- Dior’s Petits Bonheurs Collection made for the royal baby.
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- Christian Lacroix’s regal pram.
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- Christian Lacroix
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- Christian Lacroix
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- Catherine Malandrino’s baby boom box with a royal playlist.
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- The Royal Lion trouser by Stacey Bendet of Alice +Olivia.
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- A cashmere blanket by Amanda Wakeley.
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- Bespoke ultimate boxes for treasured mementoes and keesakes by Anya Hindmarch.
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- Catherine Malandrino’s baby boom box with a royal playlist.
