The Queen was the first to break royal birthing tradition by having Prince Philip in the room
MUCH has been made of the younger royals' modern approach to parenting.
But the Queen, 93, was actually the first to break with tradition in this area when she invited husband Prince Philip, 98, into the hospital room when she gave birth.
Both Prince William and Prince Harry were present when their respective wives Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle delivered their children - but the monarch got their first.
While it might seem very normal in the current age, back in 1964 when her youngest child, Prince Edward, was born it was much less common for the father to be at the expectant mother's side.
According to Ingrid Seward in her book, 'My Husband and I: The Inside Story Of 70 Years Of Royal Marriage', the Queen decided to take the unprecedented step after reading about the progressive idea in a women's magazine.
"The Duke of Edinburgh was actually holding his wife's hand as their youngest was born on March 10, 1964," she wrote.
"The Queen, by then aged 37, had asked him to be there; she'd been keenly reading women's magazines that stressed the importance of involving fathers in childbirth and had become fascinated by the idea.
"Thus Philip became the first royal father in modern history to witness the arrival of one of his children...
"Compassion comes from the Queen. And the duty and discipline comes from him Philip."
By this point, the monarch was already mother to 16-year-old Prince Charles, 14-year-old Princess Anne and four-year-old Prince Andrew.
It was reported by the that when the Queen was in labour with her firstborn, the Duke of Edinburgh was getting in a game of squash and a spot of swimming.
However, Charles was with Princess Diana when she gave birth to William and Harry at the Lindo Wing.
Similarly, William was supporting Kate during all three births to Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the same hospital.
And Harry was also present when Meghan gave birth to Archie in May at the Portland Hospital.
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