Mike Marsland/WireImageThere's something to be said for tradition.
Perhaps no one understands that better than unofficial town crier Tony Appleton, who stood on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital to say, "We welcome with humble duty the new baby of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The princess is fourth in line to the throne."
Prince William and Kate Middleton welcomed their second child—and first daughter—Saturday morning in London. "The baby weighs 8 lbs., 3 oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth," Kensington Palace said in a statement, adding, "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."
In addition to releasing an official statement, Kensington Palace also tweeted the birth news. The couple's baby girl joins big brother Prince George, 21 months.
E! News spoke with Appleton after the announcement, who felt "10-feet-tall."
"I'm proud that I've done it and that I am the first to announce it to the world...not on Twitter!" he said. Appleton traveled to London by train and checked into his hotel around 6:45 a.m. local time. "I watched the tele and got out of the taxi and got here three minutes after [the birth was announced]," he said. "I might get knighted," Appleton said, explaining that he had written a letter "and got a reply."
"I wrote the letter because last year a lot of American media said that I was a fake town crier and that I wasn't from the palace, so this time I thought that I'd write a letter and get a proper permit. They said they would be very honored if I've done it," he said. Regarding receiving the palace's approval, Appleton said, "Nobody stopped me at the steps. Did you see that? I was there and nobody stopped me."
Appleton said he had been waiting "more than a month" for Middleton to go into labor. "I planned my holidays waiting for this blessed baby in case it came early," he admitted. "I came up for three days and booked a room in a hotel and then found out she was shopping in Knightsbridge, so I went back home."
As the world waited in anticipation for the birth of the second royal baby, it took a toll on the person Appleton cherishes most. "My partner went on holiday," he said. "She left me. She had enough of me." Life isn't so bad, though. "Now I've got all the media to do, all the interviews; I might even get asked to go abroad somewhere."
Last month, Appleton correctly predicted that the royal baby would be a girl.
"I hope she is going to be called is Alice as well," he told E! News.
Tune in for a brand-new episode of The Royals this Sunday at 10 p.m. on E!