Tell world, take day off: Royal birth notices

FILE - In this July 22, 2013 file photo,Tony Appleton, a town crier, announces the birth of the royal baby, outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London, Palace officials say Prince William's wife Kate has given birth to a baby boy. Riffing off prior Monegasque ritual, Prince Albert II set the ground rules for how Monaco announced the births of little Gabriela and Jacques to Princess Charlene on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) FILE - In this July 22, 2013 file photo,Tony Appleton, a town crier, announces the birth of the royal baby, outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London, Palace officials say Prince William's wife Kate has given birth to a baby boy. Riffing off prior Monegasque ritual, Prince Albert II set the ground rules for how Monaco announced the births of little Gabriela and Jacques to Princess Charlene on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File)

By Associated Press December 11, 2014 3 min read

PARIS (AP) – Each newborn got 21 cannon shots, the bells tolled for 15 minutes and the air filled with the sound of boat horns when Monaco’s royal twins were born. And everyone in the tiny principality gets a day off to celebrate.

Riffing off prior Monegasque ritual, Prince Albert II set the ground rules for how Monaco announced the news that Princess Charlene gave birth Wednesday to little Gabriella and Jacques. Here how other royal monarchies orchestrate the presentation of heirs to the throne:

GREAT BRITAIN

In the case of latest arrival Prince George in 2013, a palace messenger traveled by car from the hospital to Buckingham Palace, carrying a piece of paper detailing gender, weight and time of birth. The news was posted on a wooden easel on the palace’s forecourt.

Officials also posted the news on Twitter to millions of followers worldwide.