Few newborns get quite as much attention as those that are royalty. The British royal family is a source of fascination and interest for people all around the world, and the birth of a new prince was no exception to this long lasting tradition. On April 23, 2018, at 11:01 AM, His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge, full name Louis Arthur Charles, was born. At birth, he was reported to weigh 8 lbs. and 7 oz., and was born at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London- the same place as his two older siblings.

The third child of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the prince’s birth was celebrated by spectators not only in the United Kingdom but also by news outlets across the world. Even here at YLHS, anyone who regularly checks social media was probably aware of the birth.

Sarah Chen (10) mentions that the widespread interest is

“fascinating” and that it shows the “remaining influence of British monarchy.”

His name was announced a few days after his birth, leaving everyone eager to discover what it would be. In fact, the name left many surprised as the name Louis had been in 10th place among the guesses.

Shortly after the prince’s birth, his older siblings, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, arrived at the hospital with their father. Photographers captured an adorable picture of Princess Charlotte as she waved to the camera, smiling widely. Quite notably, the young princess is the first in British history not to lose her place in line to the throne after the birth of a younger brother.

That being said, Prince Louis is now fifth in line to the throne, following Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte (Town & Country). He has taken Prince Harry’s position, pushing the older prince into being sixth in line to the throne. This news prompted commentary from the famous British author J.K. Rowling through her Twitter. She mentioned that she was “listening to @CNN talking about #royalbaby3 and the reporter said ‘Prince Harry’s route to the throne just became more difficult’ as though it’s an open secret he’s planning to systematically slaughter his closest relatives.”

Britain celebrated the birth of the new prince in a number of ways, such as by lighting up the BT Tower in London with the words “it’s a boy!” and changing the colors on the London Eye to red, white, and blue in honor of the new baby. The Royal Mint announced the creation of a new commemorative silver penny for the prince, dated 2018 and engraved with a portrait of the baby’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II (Sunday Express).

Meanwhile, Prince William and Kate Middleton have already returned home to Kensington Palace, following their two older children whom they sent ahead of them (Vanity Fair). They left the hospital surprisingly early, sparking discussion among people as to why.

On the other hand, Prince Louis is already generating millions of dollars merely by existing. His surprising worth is due to the continued fascination of the public with the royal family. According to research from two different United Kingdom-based consumer trends research, he is predicted to earn between $70 million to $125 million within the first few weeks of his life. This comes in the form of memorabilia, souvenirs, and infant goods (Money).

It is clear to see that Prince Louis will have a lasting impact on the world throughout his lifetime, as the world will be watching him. His birth has already made an impact, and it is exciting for many to consider what else he will accomplish.