Town Crier is Ready for Royal Baby No. 3
Tony Appleton has been on "red alert" since the beginning of April. Like so many in the U.K. (and around the world), he has been patiently awaiting the arrival of the new royal baby. But Appleton is hardly your average royals enthusiast; he was ready to spring into action the minute Duchess Kate is admitted to the hospital.
Here he is announcing the new prince's birth.
The 81-year-old is a town crier. And despite not having an official relationship with the royal family (though he does describe them as "the envy of the world"), he announced not only both Prince George and Princess Charlotte's births from the steps of the Lindo Wing, but also the new royal baby's.
Like someone straight out of the 18th century, he starts with "Oyez, Oyez, Oyez," which sounds something like "Oh yay, oh yay, oh yay" and means "hear ye." Then, once he has everyone's attention, he'll go forth with the proclamation.
Watch him in action here:
Appleton is clearly well-versed in the duties of town crier. He fills the traditional role in Bury St. Edmunds, a town in Suffolk, and in Romford, which he tells me is part of the outer London Borough of Havering.
And while he's thrilled by the royal birth-he correctly predicted the Duchess was having a boy and thinks they will name him "Philip"-it's really no more significant than any other announcement.
"Every proclamation I make is important to me, whether it is a friend, a company, or a member of the royal family," he tells Town & Country via email. "They all deserve my best efforts to celebrate good news."
In addition to his town crier responsibilities, Appleton owns a small elderly care home in Great Baddow, near Chelmsford. Like the royals themselves, Appleton has a busy spring. He also plans to make a proclamation for the royal wedding in May.
You Might Also Like
Solve the daily Crossword
