In summary: one big, sweaty, rowdy mess. The Queen would expect better behavior from her subjects, really.
Via: Alex Rees/Buzzfeed
Palace officials had broken with a longstanding tradition and first confirmed the royal baby's birth via press release. This news preempted not only the reveal of the official birth notice (displayed on that shiny gold easel at Buckingham Palace) but even came before a palace aide had left the Lindo Wing with that notice.
Most of the photographers at the Lindo Wing felt blindsided by the decision. They were not happy at all, though having spent hours if not days outside the hospital, that's maybe a given. One guy standing a little in front of me — on a much taller, wobblier stepladder than my own — called the PR move "horseshit." Others nodded in agreement, gingerly, so as to not risk knocking their cameras out of focus. After all, they'd only been given a few minutes warning to assemble on their ladders before the all-important palace aide exited the Lindo Wing (quite how such news travels, they'll never tell), just to have their moment scooped by just about anyone who happened to be checking Twitter at the right moment. The fervent royal fans who'd congregated around a corner were cheering the news a good few minutes before the photographers' pit had their photo opportunity.
And it was a moment, literally. Because once that aide with the notice (hidden safely in a chic maroon leather folder) had passed it off to the waiting black car, it was all over. At least for the day.
Here's the scene upon my arrival — about ten minutes after the notice had been delivered, but just prior to its placement in the palace forecourt.
Incidentally, my taxi driver was thrilled the Duchess of Cambridge had delivered a boy, because "it should be that way, a male hair" — yes, pronounced hair. He then said he wouldn't wish being a Prince upon anyone though, because "look at how much stick poor Harry gets for just bein' a lad."
Via: Alex Rees/Buzzfeed
