A Metropolitan police officer rang the town crier's magnificent bell while on duty outside the Lindo wing of St Mary's hospital, Paddington.

The good-hearted copper had been shepherding the huge media contingent when he accepted an invitation by Royal Crier Tony Appleton to have a go at ringing the most famous bell in the world that proclaimed the birth of a future king of England.

Tony sensationally caused a huge media scrum when he wrote his own chapter in history when he became the first crier to announce a Royal birth since modern monarchs did away with town criers and went on radio.

To see Tony's two lengthy proclamation videos outside Lindo Wing filmed by his personal stunt co-ordinator and made available exclusively to CRHnews go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdKYHthwXRw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEW3r9fdJ88

To see Tony's proclamation outside Buckingham Palace go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N44ZZ2-lbk

Tony, 75, of Chelmsford, Essex, made his historic proclamation with live coverage from BBC News 24 and Sky News reaching every corner of the globe.

The proclamation was crafted by former Press Association 'Royal Reporter' Tom Corby, of Writtle, who was rewarded by becoming a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by Her Majesty the Queen for his journalist services.

Dozens of international TV crews and 500 photographers who had camped out for weeks with nothing much to do were at long last given something to focus on when red-tuniced Tony leapt out of a taxi and strode to the steps of the Lindo Wing to make history.

One Fleet Street snapper exclaimed: "Everyone was desperate for something to capture the moment when suddenly Tony began shouting outside the Wing, he was brilliant and fully deserved grabbing the publicity across the world, what a character!"