Baby talk gathered steam on Charles’ visit to York
IT was Prince Charles that they were cheering for – but it was the newest arrival for the Royal Family that was definitely on their minds.
The impending arrival of his first grandchild was the dominant topic for the crowds of onlookers who gathered as the Prince of Wales arrived in York for an official visit this morning (Monday, July 22).
And the cheerful Prince was only too happy to joke and chat with the well-wishers as the world waited on events at St Mary’s Hospital in west London.
One member of the crowd shouted his congratulations and the smiling Prince responded: “Do you know something I don’t?”
Grandfather John Dowson, even suggested there might be more than one baby on the way.
“I just said ‘Congratulations sir, it’s triplets,” as a joke - and he saw the funny side of it, laughed and had a smile,” he said.
The Prince was in the city on a two-part visit and first he visited the National Railway Museum in the wake of its celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of Mallard setting a world steam speed record.
He then went on to York Minster to tour the exhibition Revealing York Minster, in the Undercroft before moving on to talk to the glaziers, craftsmen and apprentices restoring the building and even have a go with a hammer and chisel.
At the Minster he told local mum India Lamb, 25, that he was "excited" about the imminent royal arrival.
Her husband David is a stonemason at the great cathedral and she was there with their six-month-old son Henry.
He said 'Hello and who's this?' and I said this is Henry and he is excited for your imminent arrival.
“And he said 'oh yes, we are excited too'.”
Prince Charles at York Minster with Archbishop John Sentamu
At the rail museum was even presented with a gift for his grandchild, in the shape of a cuddly toy.
Freddie Dickinson, five, had travelled from nearby Church Fenton with his mum Alex and brother Thomas, seven, and he handed the Prince a toy giraffe named Sophie, which the Prince said he would give to the baby.
The Prince arrived in York on a train pulled by one of Mallard’s sister steam engines, Bittern, and told local primary school pupil Sam Dalby that he had loved trains since he was a boy.
At the Minster the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, said: “Were proud and excited that he has come here today - but especially today because, in the life of his family, this is going to be such an important day.”
Receiving a model of Mallard
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