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That said, the future queen said that she felt doing so “was really important.”
The Gist
- On July 22, 2013, Kate Middleton gave birth to her first child, Prince George.
- The very next day, the Princess of Wales (then the Duchess of Cambridge) and her husband Prince William introduced George to the world, as a swarm of reporters and photographers gathered to see the first glimpse of the new heir to the throne.
- The future queen said the experience “was slightly terrifying, I’m not going to lie.”
Imagine this—you’ve just given birth to your first child hours prior. As you leave the hospital, the entire world is watching on television and the internet, and a large pack of reporters and photographers have been waiting for days for this moment. Having just given birth the day before, you walk out—in a dress and full hair and makeup—to debut your baby to the world’s eager eyes.
So yeah, it’s no wonder that Kate Middleton, when describing the experience of introducing her firstborn Prince George to the world in 2013, called it “terrifying.”
The Princess of Wales—then the Duchess of Cambridge—gave birth to George on July 22 at 4:24 p.m. By the next day, July 23, the new family of three were on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital for a photocall. Speaking on an episode of the “Happy Mum, Happy Baby” podcast, the future queen said the experience “was slightly terrifying, I’m not going to lie.”
Scary though it was, Kate felt the need to introduce George in this way because “Everyone had been so supportive, and both [Prince] William and I were really conscious this was something that everyone was excited about and we were hugely grateful for the support that the public has shown us,” she said.
“For us to be able to share that joy and appreciation with the public I felt was really important,” the Princess of Wales continued. “But equally, it was coupled with a newborn baby and inexperienced parents and the uncertainty about what that held, so there were all sorts of mixed emotions.”
Adding that she was “keen to get home” after giving birth, Kate added that she was “really desperate to get home and get back to normality.” Giving birth to George—also the heir to the throne—was something Kate admitted she “totally underestimated—the impact and the change it had on our lives from that moment, really.”
“You don’t realize, no amount of planning and preparation can get you ready for that moment,” she continued.
In his early days, William described George as having a “good set of lungs” (per Vanity Fair), and Kate told “some of her best girlfriends” that George’s birth was “perfect.”
“She said it was straightforward and there were no complications,” a source told the outlet. “She wanted a natural birth, and she was so happy she was able to have one.” Queen Elizabeth’s obstetrician-gynecologist Marcus Setchell—who postponed his retirement to deliver George—told the media at the hospital after his birth that the baby was “beautiful.”
The evening of George’s birth, William and Kate brought in food from Zizzi’s Pizzeria, and as they spent the night in the hospital, William slept at Kate’s side next to George, who was swaddled in a crib. “You would never know that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the future heir were at the end of the corridor, there was so little fuss,” a woman who was only doors away from Kate told Vanity Fair.
For the photocall on July 23, Kate’s hairdresser Amanda Cook Tucker blow dried her brunette hair and helped her get ready for the media waiting outside. “She went beyond the call of duty and brought an assistant with her and a selection of dresses for Kate to try on,” a source said of Cook Tucker. They landed on a pale blue Jenny Packham dress, and Vanity Fair reported that (understandably) Kate “was incredibly nervous about confronting the press” and “was still very emotional after the birth,” but William “was there reassuring her that she would be fine.”
William later said that he and Kate were “on such a high” as they greeted the awaiting crowds. “We were happy to show him off to whoever wanted to see him,” he said. William also told the media at the time (per The Guardian) that he and Kate were “stil working on a name.”
“He’s a big boy—he’s quite heavy,” William said. After someone suggested George, William replied, “Wait and see.”
Kate, for her part, said, “It’s very emotional. It’s such a special time. I think any parent will know what this feeling feels like.” To this, William agreed. “It’s very special,” he said.
Addressing the media’s long wait, William said of George, “I will remind him of his tardiness when he’s a bit older, because I know how long you guys have been standing out here. So hopefully the hospital and you guys can all get back to normal now, and we can go and look after him.”
William added that George has “got her looks, thankfully,” to which Kate said, “No, I am not sure about that.” Asked if he’d changed his first diaper yet, William triumphantly responded, “Done that,” to which Kate said, “Yes, he was very good.”
Asked about George’s hair, William then quipped, “He’s got way more than me—thank God.”
Read the original article on InStyle
