Regional newspapers have joined titles across the world in celebrating the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s son yesterday.
The baby’s birth was finally announced to the media at 8.30pm last night, allowing morning regionals to get the news on their front pages today.
It has led to local newspapers looking to find new ways to cover the story, including the Caithness Courier which changed its title to the Caithness Courheir for the week.
Its edition, which was published on Wednesday, featured a special masthead to mark the prince’s birth and its front page reported on a local couple whose baby was born on the same day.
And the Reading Post, which covers Kate’s family home in Bucklebury, also changed its masthead – adding a lion with a crown to celebrate the royal birth.
The announcement of the baby’s arrival followed a day of waiting after it was announced early yesterday morning that the Duchess of Cambridge had been taken to hospital in the early stages of labour.
The Royal baby, who is third in line to the throne, was born yesterday weighing 8lb 6oz at the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in West London.
Below are a selection of front pages from regional papers. Further ones for inclusion can be emailed to [email protected].
The Caithness Courier changed its name to mark the royal birth.
The Reading Post changed its masthead to mark the baby's arrival.
The Yorkshire Post's souvenir special on Wednesday features the Duke and Duchess with their new baby.
The Scotsman's front page on Wednesday shows the Duke of Cambridge introducing his baby son to the world.
The Scotsman's front page on Tuesday featured the easel at Buckingham Palace where the birth was announced.
Stoke-based The Sentinel went blue to celebrate the birth of a boy for its souvenir edition.
- The Northern Echo’s front page includes an offer for free fish and chips, “made with the very finest King Edwards”.
- Sheffield’s The Star includes a 12-page Royal baby souvenir today.
The East Anglian Daily Times turned itself sideways for a large poster front and back page.
The EADT's fellow Archant title the Eastern Daily Press also went for a poster wrap on its front and back pages.
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This highlights what’s wrong with the regional press these days. What is the point of dailies running massive non-local coverage of what’s really a national story – especially one that’s being given blanket coverage across a multitude of other media? Surely running static coverage of a story that’s breaking minute by minute online and on TV serves no purpose to readers in Sheffield, Darlington or anywhere else? They would be better off featuring a strong story that’s relevant to the area and then running some token coverage of the royal baby inside.
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The Sentinel’s headline is awful….Especially for a front page!
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I just don’t get why some regionals have gone so big on the birth. Yes, OK, include a decent bit of coverage by all means. But unless there is a strong local line, surely its best to stick to the USP of a local paper – which is local news.
Everyone knew by Tuesday morning that the child had been born – you couldn’t miss it.
And there’s no point going up against the Nats for coverage. Leads me to conclude a lot of this was on the back of vanity – and I can’t imagine it drove copy sales one iota – apart from perhaps the Sentinel which at least had a strong local line.
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