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Royal baby: Ambassador thanks well-wishers in Japan

Celebrations and congratulations as Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to a baby son.

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Royal baby

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a son at 4.24pm on Monday, 22 July. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz and both Her Royal Highness and child are doing well. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth, while The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague has written on behalf of the FCO to TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to offer congratulations, while British Ambassador to Japan, Tim Hitchens has released a message of congratulations to the Royal Family and gratitude to well-wishers in Japan:

On behalf of the British Government in Japan, I would like to thank our many friends here who have contacted the British Embassy Tokyo and Consulate General in Osaka to offer heartfelt messages of congratulations for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their first child, a baby boy. We were delighted that the Duke and Duchess were able to meet Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations last year and with 2013 marking the 400th anniversary of UK-Japan relations, the birth makes this a year to both reflect on history and look forward to what the next generation will bring. I hope that others in Japan will join me in taking this opportunity to extend our best wishes to the Royal family and baby boy.

Prime Minister David Cameron also gave a statement from Downing Street after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth, saying:

It’s wonderful news from St Mary’s Paddington, and I’m sure that right across the country, and indeed right across the Commonwealth, people will be celebrating and wishing the Royal couple well. It is an important moment in the life of our nation, and I suppose above all it is a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who have got a brand new baby boy.

It’s been a remarkable few years for our Royal family - the Royal Wedding captured people’s hearts, the extraordinary and magnificent Jubilee and now this Royal birth. All to a family that has given this nation so much incredible service and they can know that a proud nation is celebrating with them a very proud, happy couple tonight.

Well-wishers in Japan are advised to use dedicated online channels to send any personal messages of congratulations. These can be posted to the @ClarenceHouse Twitter account or submitted by signing the Google+ card at www.g.co/royalbaby.

Buckingham Palace will be updating content on The Duke and Duchess’s official website and the British Embassy Tokyo will also be sharing content on its Facebook page and @UKinJapan Twitter account as more information becomes available. The name of the child is expected to be made public within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile Japanese visitors planning to travel to the UK are encouraged to check out Visit Britain’s blog at http://ameblo.jp/britain-park/ (Japanese language), which features tips and recommendations for sites to visit in the UK with Royal connections.

Published 23 July 2013
Last updated 23 July 2013 + show all updates
  1. Japanese translation added

  2. First published.