This is the bizarre rule Kate Middleton WON’T have to follow when she welcomes the royal baby… and Amber Rudd must be relieved
THE royals live their lives by a strict set of rules, and the birth of a royal baby is no different.
Meghan Markle will have to follow these 16 strict rules when she marries Harry, while Kate Middleton, who was admitted to hospital to give birth to her third child this morning, has to follow traditions even when she's in labour.
The midwives will be sworn to secrecy, the town crier will announce the birth and The Queen must be the first to know she's got a new great-grandchild.
But there's one age old tradition which has been ditched in recent years, and we're sure everyone involved is very grateful.
Traditionally, the Home Secretary had to be present at a royal birth.
That's right, Amber Rudd could have been in the delivery room holding Kate's hand.
It may sound random, but there was a reason behind the ancient quirk.
The idea was that the Home Secretary, as a senior member of the Cabinet, would make sure the baby was a genuine descendant of the reigning monarch - and not an 'imposter baby' who'd been sneaked in.
Back in the late 17th century, King James II and Queen Mary Beatrice were plagued by rumours their newborn son - also called James - was an imposter.
Rival families, who wanted a claim to the throne, spread lies that the actual prince had been stillborn - and a new-born infant was smuggled into the birthing room in a warming pan.
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The last time a Home Secretary was in the room was when The Queen was born in 1926.
In 2013, the then Home Secretary Theresa May was asked if she would be attending the birth of Kate and William's first child, George.
She confirmed that the custom had been quietly shelved after the Queen's arrival.
She told the House of Commons: "In fact, it is no longer the case that the Home Secretary is required to attend a royal birth."
In related news, afternoon tea, bottomless champagne and a pain-free labour… this woman gave birth in the ‘five-star’ Lindo wing and this is what Kate Middleton has in store.
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