英国皇家宝贝能提振经济

For those intending to keep up with the Cambridges, the time had finally come to see what they need. Fashion first in Kate’s dress. It created such a stir that the designers’ website crashed before it emerged. This Jenny Packham frogwas an one-off and not for sale. Then there is the merino wool shawl wrapping the royal newborn - 45 pounds a pop and in huge demand. Or what about the car seat? Just 100 pounds. But hurry, sales of the Britax baby safe seats have trebled at Kiddicare stores.

Well, I think it’s a huge aspiration, isn’t it? Public figure, clearly parents looking at what’s the latest product, who’s the latest celebrity. And I think on the back of that, you know, the seat by default becomes aspirational.

It’s predicted that the royal arrival could end up boosting the UK economy by a quarter of a billion pounds. But it isn’t making any difference to the spending habits of people here in King’s parade in Cambridge.

We had a bottle of champagne. It’s an evening with friends, and we celebrated it. 

I won’t buy anything more. Maybe a few celebration drinks at weekend.

I’m interested in the old family, in the baby and everything. But it’s just more stuff to fill your house with this in it.

The new parents-chosen charities like East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices are also benefiting from the royal feel-good factor.

The donations are coming in from the UK, but overseas as well. We’ve had all kinds of generous offers from an ornate hand-made cradle from Poland. We’ve had children’s bedroom furniture from Slovenia.

Just like his father, Prince George of Cambridge will grow up in the media glare. And every babygrow he’s seen drivelling on or soft toy he cuddles is sure to become a best-seller.

Emma Birchley, Sky News, Cambridge