Princess Charlotte birth proclaimed by Royalist Crier Tony Appleton at Lindo Wing, St Mary's Hospital, London.

Essex town crier Tony Appleton, who announced the birth of the new princess, said he was told the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be “touched” when he asked if could make the proclamation, reports Kate Dodd, of the Ipswich Star, Sunday, May 3, 2015 10:31 AM

Mr Appleton, from Baddow Road, Great Baddow, said he was disappointed to have been labelled a fake by some people when he made the announcement of Prince George’s birth two years ago.

Last October he wrote to the royal couple asking if they would have any objections second time around.

Dressed in full regalia and hoarse from his exploits yesterday, he told BBC Breakfast: “Last time a lot of people said I was a fake and it was absolutely ridiculous because town criers came to England in 1066 and the town crier was specifically employed by the king to proclaim births, executions, weddings, whatever, and obviously this was the birth.

“So this time I thought ‘I’m not going to get caught out’, so I actually wrote to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and asked them if I could proclaim the birth of the new baby.”

He read the reply to the letter, which said: “I am sure your royal highnesses would be touched by your kind suggestion.”

It added: “Thanks for thinking of them in this way.”

Mr Appleton, president of the Guild of International Millennium Town Criers, stood on the steps of the Lindo Wing yesterday morning and made his declaration in front of the crowd of reporters, photographers and well-wishers.

In booming voice, he said: “We welcome with humble duty the second-born of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

“The Princess is fourth in line to the throne.”

He said this morning he was “still on a high” after the events, and plumped for Alice when asked about the princess’ name.