Foreign News: Doing Well

One fine August day, King George announced to his subjects that the proverbial stork had visited Goldborough Hall, Yorkshire, the residence of his only daughter, Mary, and his son-in-law, Viscount Lascelles. Princess Mary, Viscountess Lascelles, had given birth to a second son. His loyal subjects responded by wishing joy to the mother and babe, who were reported to be “doing well.”

Princess Mary’s first son, George Henry Hubert, was born on Feb. 7, 1923. The new baby boy, weighing 8¾ Ibs. was born on the 78th birthday of his paternal grandfather, the Earl of Harewood. It was said that the Princess hoped for a daughter but that the father had expressed the wish that the child might be a son, so that George (who was named after his maternal grandfather, King George) would be provided with a playmate.

After the first burst of excitement, the British public fell to speculating upon the probable names of the babe. The Earl of Harewood made known that Uncle David (Prince of Wales) would be godfather and that the baby would certainly receive one of his godfather’s many names.

The new baby, although a commoner, will be sixth in line of succes sion to the British Throne. His elder brother, grandson of King George, is known as Master George Henry Hubert Lascelles. When his father succeeds to the Earldom of Harewood, he and his brother will be able to prefix Honorable to their names.

Under Letters Patent of Dec. 11, 1917, the titles of Royal Highness, Prince and Princess were restricted to the Sovereign’s children, the children of the Sovereign’s sons, and the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales.