UK paper 'The Sun' changes name to 'The Son' to honour royal baby

LONDON: Top-selling British newspaper The Sun today changed its name to "The Son" to honour the arrival of a baby boy for Prince William and his wife Kate.

The rest of Fleet Street marked the occasion with souvenir editions, with The Daily Telegraph, The Daily Star and The Daily Express all splashing the headline "It's a Boy" across front-page photographs of the new mother.

The Times said that Britain and the Commonwealth "will delight with the pride and joy" at the birth, and was one of many papers offering words of advice for the future heir.

"Our monarchy is what we have in common and what distinguishes us from other lands less fortunate in their traditions and less comfortable with their history. That is why this is a national event," the daily said in its editorial.

"Our affection for the monarchy is not unconditional, but if repaid with pride, duty and the right hint of humour, it is almost unbounded.

"The infant prince will have much to learn from his great grandmother (the queen), but nothing more important than how to make this implicit contract endure."

But the centre-left Guardian offered a warning to the new arrival.

"Congratulations and all good wishes. A new baby is a very splendid thing," said its editorial.

"But, of course, there is a not so good fairy by the cradle too.

"Baby Cambridge is unlikely to inherit for at least 50 years. However exemplary the reigns of his father and grandfather, however impeccable his own future behaviour, will Britain in 2065 still be a state that has at its apex one individual whose place is decided by birth?" (AFP)