Daily Star
2021 has already seen the birth of two Royal babies.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed August Philip Hawke Brooksbank on February 9 – and he became the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s ninth great-grandchild.
But a few weeks later they would have a 10th great-grandchild from Zara Tindall and her husband Mike.
Lucas Philip Tindall was born on Sunday, March 21 – and came so fast his parents never made it to hospital.
The baby boy was born in the couple’s home – as would be standard practice for Royals back in the day.
It may have not been Zara’s dream situation, at one time Royal women used to have to give birth in front of a crowd of people at home.
In recent times Royals have favoured giving birth in hospitals – including Princess Diana and Kate Middleton.
But the Queen gave birth to Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
Public officials used to have to be present at the birth of every Royal baby.
This tradition stemmed from the “Warming Pan Scandal” in 1688 when Queen Mary Beatrice (Mary of Moderna), wife of King James II, gave birth to James Francis Edward.
There were many rumours surrounding her pregnancy at time – one being that she wasn’t even pregnant and wore a fake belly
The second rumour was that the child had been stillborn, and an impostor baby had been smuggled into her bedchamber.
It got to the point where King James had more than 40 witnesses sign affidavits stating that they had seen the birth to verify that James Francis Edward was their child.
Since then it has been customary for public figures to be present.
Queen Victoria declared it to be the role of the Home Secretary to be present from 1894.
But other witnesses were also considered essential to be in the room.
It would be crowded with ladies-in-waiting, midwives, servants, doctors and male courtiers.
The last time a home secretary was present for a birth was in 1936 for the birth of the Queen’s cousin, Princess Alexandra.
The then-Princess Elizabeth gave birth to Prince Charles in Buckingham Palace – but without a political representative present.
Elizabeth’s father, King George V, deemed the practice unnecessary, and it was therefore discontinued.
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