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Royal baby: New arrival will mark fresh chapter for monarchy

The birth of the future monarch comes 20 years on from turbulent times in the House of Windsor

File photo dated 16/09/12 ofthe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in traditional Island clothing during a visit to the home of Governor General Frank Kabui in Honiara, Solomon Islands, as part of their nine-day royal tour of the Far East and South Pacific in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child will usher in a new chapter for the monarchy in the year of the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation.

Sixty years ago, thousands of people lined the route from Buckingham Palace on June 2, 1953, to catch a glimpse of the young Queen Elizabeth II, the baby’s great-grandmother, on her way to Westminster Abbey.

An estimated 20 million people watched the religious ceremony, in which she took the Coronation oath, was anointed and crowned, after the Queen agreed to the event being televised.

[10 ways the Royal Baby’s life will be totally different to others born this summer]



The birth of the future monarch comes 20 years on from turbulent times in the House of Windsor.

The year 1993 saw the full publication of an intimate late-night telephone conversation between the Prince of Wales and Camilla Parker Bowles, as she was then.



Dubbed “Camillagate”, the infamous tape, made in December 1989 and part exposed at the end of 1992, damaged Charles’s reputation and further exposed his relationship with then Mrs Parker Bowles.


[Royal baby: How will news of the birth be announced?]


1993 was also the year Buckingham Palace opened to the public for the first time - at a price of £8 a ticket - to raise money to repair fire-damaged Windsor Castle after widespread opposition to using taxpayers’ money for the restoration.

The same year the Queen began paying income tax and capital gains tax voluntarily on her personal income.

Already 2013 has been a busy year for the Royal Family, although not as hectic as last year's the Diamond Jubilee.

[Raising a royal: How will Kate and William bring up their baby?]



In March, the Queen was hospitalised for the first time in 10 years when she suffered symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Although she spent only one night in hospital, she cancelled the majority of her engagements over a two-week period.

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