Merry Christmas !

At the Olympic Stadium for the Olympics Anniversary Games 2013.

Nostalgia . Sweet memories . These were just a  few of  the words people used  to  describe their emotions as the doors of the London Olympic Stadium  opened for the first time in almost 12 months  to admit  tens of thousands of  fans into its cavernous main bowl.

                

How time flies ! It' s a year already since the awesome spectacles , the pomp and the glory which accompanied the London 2012 Olympics, yet the memories are still fresh in the minds of millions of people.

I was privileged  to  attend the 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony and to watch some of the  field , track and swimming events  during the 2012 Olympics fortnight .  

It was a glorious Olympics indeed, to say the least.

How could anyone  forget awesome and  glorious scenes  and spectacles like these  ones which featured during the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony ?

                                

Great Britain  and the world  loved every  minute of  the two-weeks Olympics razz-matazz .

 Millions  worldwide, hoped for an encore and they got one when British Athletics  announced that it will host three days of world-class athletics action from 26 to 28 July 2013, on the anniversary of the London 2012 Opening Ceremony, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. 

The first year anniversary celebrations  were  eagerly awaited  by  millions  in the UK and  abroad.
Of course , no one expected  the scenes during  this  Anniversary Games to be  equal or even  be  near in comparison  to that of the real show  last year , but millions were all the same eager  to scramble  for  tickets  to  attend  the 3-day events.        

                        

Now named Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park , the Olympic Park  has  become a popular site for tourists .

During the past year, the other parts of the Olympic Park  have been opened  to  tourists and other visitors, but the main bowl which is the Olympic stadium itself  has rarely , been opened to members of the general public and tourists, since the Olympic Closing ceremony  in  July 2012.

The Olympic  Stadium , London

                  

So when the news broke that this " no entry" arena was  to be thrown open for  three days  only , for the Sainsbury's Anniversary Games 2013  which  took place from Friday  26th  July  to  Sunday 28 July 2013 , there was a rush for tickets  for the events.

Many people missed out on getting tickets because the  initial 70,000 tickets released in mid April 2013 by the British Athletics , sold out in under 6 hours , the same day !

The Sainsbury's Anniversary Games 2013 spanned three days of athletics, with IAAF Diamond League action on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, featuring the return of many Olympic champions, and a third day of action on the Sunday dedicated to showcasing the Paralympic champions of 2012.         

Come the first day of  Anniversary Games, thousands of sports fans , including  myself  trooped to the stadium . 

We looked forward  to re-living  the Olympics atmosphere and to  be entertained by  top medal- winning and record-breaking  athletes , most of whom  featured in the 2012 Olympics .

The  main attractions during the 3-day event were the Olympics golden stars , Usain Bolt , Mo Farah , Jessica Ellis , Christine Uhuruogu and a host of top athletes from the USA and other countries.

We were not disappointed by  the organisation of the Anniversary Games and by the star-quality  performances of  the athletes . 

The Anniversary Games were well worth it and it was a brilliant outing. 

 Day 1

                                   

Yours truly having a ball , dining  in one of the restaurants in the Olympic Park.

                              

 

Here we go !

                                          

Usain Bolt making a grand entrance into the Olympic Stadium in a rocket car!

Bolt, powering  home , as usual in top form to the delight of  the spectators.

Christine Uhuruogu  of GB cleared the 400 metes in 50 seconds , record style

Day 2 -Saturday

                                            

Day 3

 

The Prince is Born

"It’s a boy !",  was the joyous shout  which  echoed from the steps of St Mary's Hospital, London and  soon after,  the news of  joy spread all over the United  kingdom and the ends of the world. 

The much- awaited news had arrived that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 's , baby , a son was born .

After ten hours of labour, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth yesterday to a future king.

The baby was born at 4.24 pm on Monday weighing a whooping large size of  8lb 6oz (3.798kg)!

 Prince William was at his wife's bedside at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London when their  son was born . 

It was also confirmed that Catherine, 31, and her son were “doing well” and will remain in hospital overnight.

The long-awaited good news was announced officially on the evening of Monday , 22nd July , 2013. 

The announcement of the birth by Kensington Palace shortly after 8pm ended a day of increasingly frenzied media reporting after it emerged that the Duchess had gone into hospital at 6am - avoiding the massed ranks of cameras via a side entrance - while in the early stages of labour.

 News of the birth was posted in accordance with tradition by a royal footman on an ornate “Roccoco revival-style” easel inside the railings of Buckingham Palace as a crowd gathered outside celebrated. 

Easel  announcing the Royal Birth in front of Buckingham Palace . 

Royal Town Crier announcing the birth.

   

There  had  been a long wait for his  birth , resulting  in a media frenzy  by a  huge crowd of photo journalists who were camping  at the  entrance of the Lindo private  wing of St. Mary's Hospital , London , for upwards of three weeks , even before the Duchess checked into the  Hospital  on Sunday , July 24th, 2013.

The World Press camped outside St. Mary's Hospital  Hospital 

  

The World Press outside the hospital , taking  cover from the rain  as they waited  for  the arrival of  the Duchess  .

Police men on guard outside St. Mary cooling down from the heat wave.

There was excitement in the air indeed and this scenario was set for the awaited  admittance of the Duchess into the Lindo wing.

When the Duchess did turn up eventually  , the throng of  press executives  at the front door of the hospital were caught  napping  and they could  not  catch  even the  slightest  of  shots of  their prized target !

The  Duchess , her husband and their  entourage  came  into  the hospital through  a side door .

 And  so the wait  continued  for the World Press awaiting the  news of  the progress of the labour  of  the Duchess inside the hospital.

The end of the wait , aptly dubbed the "Great Kate-Wait" , began after the royal baby and the future monarch was born .

The Duke of Cambridge, who was present for the birth and who stayed overnight at the hospital, said afterwards: “We could not be happier.”

The Duke of Cambridge and his  new born son and heir.

Duchess and son.

The delivery  brought  relief to the royal  couple and  brought  an end  to the long wait  by the Duchess  to safely  deliver  her first-born. 

It must  have  been  uncomfortable  for the Duchess while going through labour pains inside the hospital  to  listen to chants  of "Bring on the baby!"  from the huge crowd , the World Press; journalists  and camera men  from 150 TV Stations all over the world, who  had  been waiting  for  more than six weeks , outside the steps  of  St. Mary's Hospital .

When it was all over , the Press and others had reason  to  breathe  sighs of relief.
After the  long wait , they  must  have been  happy  to  pack up their gear and return  to their normal  lives.

Worldwide, the  excitement which the news of  this royal  pregnancy and birth  generated  was evident . 

All over the UK , there was an immediate outburst of celebration , especially  in London.

 Crowd rejoicing outside St. Mary's


Crowds gathered  at  the gates of Buckingham Palace  and  Kensington  Palace in London

UK Newspaper reports of the Royal birth 

 

                                                                          

" By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. "

Proverbs 8 :15 -16.

                                           

                                          Born  to Rule  

The baby, is the third in line to the throne and the first Prince of Cambridge in 190 years.  

When great men are born or die , the heaven  declare their arrival  or their  passing away.

The baby  prince was born on the hotter day  of the year  and the hottest day  for the past seven years.

About three weeks  before  the day  he was  born , London area of the country  suffered a prolonged heat wave , leading  to prayers  for some relief from the humidity and intense heat . People longed for soothing , cool breezes and  for the usual British rainy weather .

Strangely , under one hour after the  birth of Prince Cambridge was officially announced ; as people celebrated  on  earth , the Heavens too opened open in a dramatic display of "celestial fireworks" of loud thunder , huge streaks of lighting and heavy rain ! 

The thunder and lightening were most  unusual and they were prolonged and fierce till the next dawn .
The cool winds  and heavy rain which accompanied the "celestial fireworks " brought  great relief  to millions  of people in London and environs and they praised God  for this  great sign which accompanied the birth of the baby prince.

Heavenly  fireworks displays in London soon after the royal birth

City land marks  like Trafalgar Square , Piccadily Square, BT Towers , London Bridge and London Eye , took on shades of  blue  and  huge  banners  to announce the royal birth.

Blackpool Tower


In the USA , Canada, New Zealand and Australia , famous landmarks turned  blue.

Niagara Falls in the USA turned  blue  for the royal baby 

 Members of the British Armed Forces turned out  to pay  their full  respects  to the new born prince.

 Simultaneous gun salutes  marked the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child in London.

The soldiers, horses and guns of the King’s Troop rode out from their forward mounting base in Wellington Barracks and, as the guns are the regiment’s colours, so they were afforded due respect as they made their way to Green Park.

The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, wearing immaculately presented full dress uniform, rode their horses and First World War gun carriages past Buckingham Palace to Green Park, where they staged a 41-gun salute to mark the birth of the new royal baby.

At the same time, the Honourable Artillery Company - the City of London's army reserve regiment - fired a 62-gun salute from Gun Wharf at the Tower of London.

In its statement, Kensington Palace said: “Her  Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.”
 It added that the senior members of the royal family were “delighted”.
In an unusually forthright statement, Prince Charles announced that he was relishing the prospect of grand fatherhood, announcing that he and Camilla were “overjoyed”.

The heir to the throne said: “Grand parenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future.”

Prince Harry , who has dropped from third in line to the throne to No. 4; loves having fun and he says he's going to make sure his new nephew Prince George enjoys life, too. 

The  28-year-old Harry was all smiles as he talked about cuddling little George, who was "crying his eyes out." 

When asked about his mission as an uncle, Prince Harry said it is "to make sure he has a good upbringing and keep him out of harm's way and to make sure he has fun." 

Harry said it's too soon to say whom the baby looks like and that his brother William is a very good father. 

He joked that he's prepared to help with child care, but "I only hope my brother knows how expensive my babysitting charges are." 

Prime Minister David Cameron, taking to Twitter along with Labour leader Ed Milliband, said the Duke and Duchess will  make “wonderful parents”, adding: “The whole country will celebrate.” Mr Milliband said:

“I wish them and their son all happiness and good health.”

Later the next day , the Duke and Duchess  left the hospital  for their  home in Kensington Palace .

They appeared with their baby son on the steps of the hospital  for the  traditional  royal baby's  first photo shot.

Just as Prince  William's  parents  Princess Diana  and Prince Charles did with  him over 25 years ago , on the same steps.

The royal couple  leaving for home with their son

 

In the week following the birth , the baby Prince Cambridge  has been formally  named as "His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge ".

Also this week ,  Prince William and his wife Kate  registered the birth of their son George, who was born on July 22 in a blaze of global publicity and is third in line to the British throne.
Known officially as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the new parents completed the bureaucratic step at Kensington Palace, their London residence, the palace said in a statement.
Under the law, all births in England must be registered within 42 days of the child being born.

Birth Certificate of  Prince George 

                                           

Prince William signed the birth register, witnessed by a registrar from Westminster Register Office.

The palace released a photograph of the infant prince's birth certificate, which mixed the mundane and the monarchic.

Hand-written on the same sober form used to register the births of ordinary British babies, the document is entitled "Birth" and the entry number on the register is 207.

The names and occupations entered on the form are anything but ordinary, however.

The baby's name is recorded as "His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge ".

The parents' names are recorded as His Royal Highness Prince William Arthur Philip Louis Duke of Cambridge and Catherine Elizabeth Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge.

The father's occupation is "prince of the United Kingdom" while the mother's is "princess of the United Kingdom".
Prince William is a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot, but the form makes no mention of that.

                                             Prayer for royal baby

The Church of England  put this prayer on its website.

Prayer for the Royal baby

22 July 2013

God our Creator,

who knows each of us by name

and loves us from all eternity:

we give you thanks for new life and human love.

Bless William and Catherine

as they welcome their son into the world.

Give them patience and wisdom

to cherish and love him as he grows.

Surround the family with the light of hope and the warmth of your love today and always; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.