It’s not every day a royal baby is born, so when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced they were expecting baby number three (!!!), we went a little nuts on the royal-infant front. After guessing baby names and trying to figure out the due date, we decided to dig a bit deeper into what really happens when a royal baby arrives. Like…
This post originally appeared on Harper’s BAZAAR US
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50 Royal Baby Traditions You Had No Idea Existed
At-home births used to be the norm.
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royal family
For decades the royals gave birth at home. Queen Elizabeth II was born at a private family home in London and gave birth to her sons Charles, Andrew, and Edward at Buckingham Palace. Her daughter Princess Anne was born at another royal property called the Clarence House. Photo: Getty
However, Princess Diana started a new birthing tradition.
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Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry
Both Prince William and Harry were born at St. Mary's Hospital in the private Lindo Wing. Kate Middleton gave birth to Prince George and Princess Charlotte here as well. Though it's reported that Kate Middleton is thinking about switching up the tradition and giving birth to her third child at home.Photo: Getty
A witness used to be required in the delivery room.
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Prince Charles
When the Queen was born in 1926, the home secretary was present in the delivery room. The centuries-old tradition required someone to be present to confirm a a royal birth was actually happening. The custom ended before the birth of Prince Charles in 1948.Photo: Getty
And up until the birth of Prince Charles, fathers were not allowed in the delivery room.
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Kate Middleton, Prince Harry
For centuries, birthing was known as an all-female event and the males would remain outside of the delivery room.
Photo: Getty
Royal babies used to be typically homeschooled.
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Prince George
Queen Elizabeth herself was homeschooled. However, the Duchess and Duke of Cambridge have chosen to enroll Prince George and Princess Charlotte in school—starting in 2016 with Prince George's nursery school, the Westacre Montessori School in Norfolk, England.Photo: Getty
Public schools are typically unheard of.
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Prince George, Prince Harry
Prince George recently started primary school at Thomas's Battersea School, an elite private school in London. Prince William and Prince Harry both attended private school growing up.Photo: Getty
Princess Diana was first to break this "no public school" tradition.
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Prince William, Princess Diana
Prince William became the first heir to the throne to attend public school.Photo: Getty
Non-royal grandparents were often disregarded.
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royal family
However, this has changed with modern times. In the past royal children were often prevented from having a close relationship with their maternal grandparents if they didn't descend from British royalty.Photo: Getty
The mother's clothes are carefully chosen in her first public appearance post-birth.
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Kate Middleton, Prince Harry
Kate Middleton mirrored a similar polka-dot dress to Princess Diana after giving birth to Prince George. It's considered a sign of respect and tribute to the late Princess.
Photo: Getty
Midwives are typically present for the births.
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Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte
It's reported Kate Middleton had three midwives accompany her during the birth of Princess Charlotte—all of whom were sworn to secrecy.Photo: Getty
The birth announcement is displayed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace.
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Buckingham Palace
However, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose to announce Prince George's birth via email and Twitter before the easel had been posted—seemingly breaking tradition.
Photo: Getty
The announcement used to be handwritten, but now it's typed.
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Royal Family
The doctors at the hospital sign it and then it's delivered back to the palace by car.Photo: Getty
People line up outside of the palace to see the easel in-person.
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We totally would too.Photo: Getty
When the baby is born, there's a 62-gun salute from the Tower of London.
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Tower of London
According to the Royal Parks, it's given as a sign of respect or welcome upon various important royal occasions.
Photo: Getty
There's also a 41-gun salute from Green Park.
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And it's located near Buckingham Palace.Photo: Getty
Royal babies typically have three to four first names.
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Prince George, Princess Charlotte,
Kate Middleton, Prince Harry
Prince George's full name is George Alexander Lewis and Princess Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. Prince William's full name is William Arthur Philip Louis.
Photo: Getty
They usually combine names of previous monarchs and relatives.
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People are already predicting baby #3 names.Photo: Getty
Royal babies don't require a surname.
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Up until the early 20th century, royal babies actually had no last name at all. Instead, they were known by the names of the county of which they ruled.
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But if they do have one, they go by one surname in school.
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Prince George
This year, Prince George will simply be known as George Cambridge.Photo: Getty
Royal babies also have an ~official~ title.
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Prince George, Prince Harry
The correct title when referring to the royal baby is His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess (name) of Cambridge.Photo: Getty
The birth is announced by an unofficial town crier.
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Tony Appleton
The current town crier is Tony Appleton and he has announced the births of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The position originated in medieval times since the majority of the townspeople in the country could not read or write.
Photo: Getty
Crowds wait outside of the hospital for the birth to happen.
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They have even been known to sleep there over night.
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The Queen must be one of the first people informed of the birth before an official announcement is made.
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The Queen
Protocol dictated that Prince William call his grandmother on an encrypted phone upon Prince George's birth.
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There has always been preferences for males in the Royal succession.
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The Queen
Thankfully, this was abolished in 2013.
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There's a designated royal OB-GYN who performs the royal births.
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Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William
His name is Marcus Setchell and he postponed his retirement to deliver Prince George. He is also the Queen's obstetrician-gynecologist. In the past, Sir George Pinker delivered Prince William and Harry.
Photo: Getty
Breastfeeding is a traditional practice for royal mothers.
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Queen Elizabeth II breastfed her children, and so did Princess Diana. It's been reported Kate Middleton has done the same, though it's not officially confirmed.
Photo: Getty
However, the practice used to be completely off-limits.
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Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William
According to The Telegraph, "Queen Victoria found the idea of breastfeeding repellent, considering it the 'ruin' of intellectual and refined young ladies." Today it remains a personal decision.
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Due dates are not necessarily announced right away.
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The Duchess of Cambridge's illness caused her to announce her third pregnancy early, and the family has still not confirmed a due date.
Photo: Getty
Neither are the babies' names after giving birth.
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Princess Diana, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Prince William
Princess Diana and Prince Charles announced Prince Harry's name the day he left the hospital whereas Prince William's name was not made public for several days.
Photo: Getty
Paternity leave is expected.
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Prince William
Prince William received unpaid paternity leave from the Royal Air Force for the births of both of his children.
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Royal babies have their own pets.
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Prince William
Here, Prince William is pictured with his Shetland pony at Highgrove House in Doughton, Gloucestershire in 1986.
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Gifts are sent across the world from foreign leaders as well as the public.
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Prince George
When Prince George was born back in 2013, the New Zealand government sent a shawl made from fine merino wool—the same gift the Duke of Cambridge received over three decades ago. He also received 610 unofficial presents and his gifts were displayed at the "Royal Childhood" Buckingham Palace exhibit.
Photo: Getty
Royal babies often used traditional cloth diapers.
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Princess Diana
Prince William was reportedly the first royal baby to break away from this tradition when Princess Diana opted for disposable diapers instead.
Photo: Getty
They must attend the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony.
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Royal family, the queen
It's for their grandmother's birthday, after all. The traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony is also known as the Queen's official birthday celebration. Here, the entire Royal family watches the Royal Air Force fly above from the palace balcony.
Photo: Getty
Royal births are normally announced after the 12th week of pregnancy.
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Kate Middleton
However, exceptions have been made with Kate Middleton due to her acute morning sickness. News broke about baby no. 3 after the Duchess couldn't attend an event at the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London.Photo: Getty
The gender is not revealed before the baby's arrival.
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Kate Middleton, Prince William
Even Prince William and Kate haven't broken this tradition yet. It's rumored they didn't even know Prince George's gender themselves.
Photo: Getty
The royal parents have to officially register the birth with the country.
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Princess Diana, Prince Charles,
England and Wales requires all births must be registered within 42 days at the hospital or a local register office. Royals, they're just like us.
Photo: Getty
Nannies have traditionally been the central caretakers.
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And they're taught everything from defensive driving to security protocols to Taekwondo. Maria Borrallo is the current nanny for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Photo: Getty
Royal babies are christened several days to weeks after they are born.
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And this is when they often make their official first public appearance. Prince George was christened at St. James's Palace in London and Princess Charlotte (above) was christened at Church of St. Mary Magdalene on Queen Elizabeth II's Sandringham Estate.
Photo: Getty
The christening is typically done by the official head of the Church of England.
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His name is Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. In addition to the church, previous generations of royals have held the event at Buckingham Palace, where Princes Charles and William were christened in the Music Room. The queen and her sister were baptized in a private chapel that was destroyed during World War II.
Photo: Getty
Media access to the christening is often restricted.
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Aside from the after-party, of course. However, with Princess Charlotte the royal family broke this tradition and allowed the public to take selfies.
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An official portrait is traditionally released after the event.
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You can see Prince George's official christening photographs here.
Photo: Getty
The christening gown has historical significance.
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For the past eight generations, the same gown has been worn as a replica of the one used in 1841 during Queen Victoria's reign. Sixty two royal babies have worn this original gown.
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The public gets to join in on the celebration.
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Princess Charlotte
Princess Charlotte's christening was the most public christening in royal history. There's a designated viewing area for thousands of spectators.
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Royal babies usually have around six (!) godparents.
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Prince William, Prince George
Prince George has seven and Princess Charlotte has five.Photo: Getty
But family members are not chosen for the role.
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Prince Harry
And certainly not the immediate family. (Sorry, Prince Harry.)Photo: Getty
The Home Secretary must notify officials of the birth.
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Prince George
Including significant figures such as the Lord Mayor of London, the Governors of Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
Photo: Getty
For the past 58 years, there have only been two royal babies born within each royal family.
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Kate Middleton, Prince William
Prince George, Princess Charlotte
The Duke and Duchess are the first of the Queen's immediate family to have three children. The last time there were over two royal children within an immediate royal family was when the Queen gave birth to her own four children.
Photo: Getty
Meetings with world leaders are not typically the norm for royal children.
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Back in April 2016, Prince George "was allowed to stay up late" to meet the Obamas at Kensington Palace.
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But despite all of the royal traditions, sometimes it's okay to break them.
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Prince George
We are all Prince George.
Photo: Getty