Birth Of Princess Heralds $2 Billion Boon

The new Princess of Cambridge will be worth billions to the British economy before she turns 10, an expert has estimated less than two days after the baby dubbed "Sleeping Cutie" was born.

The new royal was last night with her parents, William and Kate, at Kensington Palace - where she'd spent her first night. The Queen and Prince Charles were among relatives expected to visit.

Later this week, the family will leave "Apartment 1A" for Anmer Hall, their secluded Norfolk home, with Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.

From "Sleeping Cutie" to the "People's Princess", the newest member of the royal family unsurprisingly dominated newspaper headlines.

Largely to the benefit of the fashion and beauty industry, the Princess will be worth $2 billion, or $300 million a year, to the UK economy before she is 10, one unnamed retail expert has predicted.

Her every move, every dress and every hairstyle is certain to be scrutinised, studied and copied across the globe.

"She is going to bring so much glamour," said Penny Junor, royal author and biographer of both Princes William and Harry.

"Princesses wear beautiful clothes. They endear themselves in a way boys don't. We have not had a Princess growing up at the heart of the royal family for such a long time."

Anne, the Princess Royal, born in 1950 in an age before the internet, was something of a "sporty spice", going on to compete at the Olympic Games.

"Not many people will remember Princess Anne growing up," Junor said. "It was a totally different age. And anyway, Anne was never very interested in fashion."

Junor said the new Princess needed to be protected from media intrusion and inevitable scrutiny.

"The thing that worries me is she will be pulled apart. Constantly people will ask what her hair is like, has she put on weight. It will be hard being a teenage princess."

Prince George is already subject to constant attention. While the British media have an agreement with the Duke and Duchess to publish only authorised photos of the Prince, foreign newsmen play by no such rules.

Source: NZHerald