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A Full Rundown of All the Peculiar Royal Baby Traditions

Good Housekeeping

June 8, 2021 at 1:42 AM

A Full Rundown of All the Peculiar Royal Baby Traditions

The gender isn't announced ahead of time.

Home births were the norm.

Otherwise they've taken place in hospitals.

The babies get wrapped in special blankets.

A LOT of midwives and doctors participate.

The royals popularized obstetric anesthesia.

The births used to require a witness.

Fathers weren't present for the delivery.

Now they have to take paternity leave.

The monarch must be notified first.

Buckingham Palace posts a notice of the birth.

And a town crier announces it.

The royals have to register their births.

The parents chose at least three names.

They usually stick with traditional names.

They use different surnames.

Descendants along the female line don't get titles.

Male heirs used to get preference.

There's also an order of precedence.

The royals receive tons of baby gifts.

The Tower of London sets off a 62-gun salute.

Another park fires off 41 more guns.

Landmarks light up in honor of the birth.

The baby often appears in public soon afterwards.

The Archbishop of Canterbury baptizes the baby.

The christenings use a special water.

They also use a special christening gown.

And always the same bowl.

A lot of godparents attend.

Babies can now go on tour right away.

They're issued a passport at birth.

Nannies do a lot of caretaking.

A portrait is usually released on their birthday.

Royal babies used to only wear dresses.

Today, young boys only wear shorts.

They don't attend royal engagements.

Except for one very special event.

Nicknames are a no-go.

A Full Rundown of All the Peculiar Royal Baby Traditions

The birth of any baby is exciting, but our excitement is at a whole new level when the news of a royal baby is announced. While most newborns don't have to worry about much — except learning how to crawl, perhaps — when your dad's in line for the throne, you're not just any old family. Here are the (many) traditions, rules and new customs regal babes have to follow.

Samir Hussein - Getty Images

Which ones will Meghan Markle follow?