There is one force on this earth that humans are hopeless to control. It makes men fall to their knees, women openly weep, and any seeing eye go, “Awwww…” This force is not to be reckoned with, controlled, or denied. Ladies and gentlemen, I know you’re asking yourself, “What on earth could she be talking about?” Well, I’ll tell you. There is one thing that we are all undeniably, hopelessly, and irrevocably in love with: BABIES. Yes yes, aw aw, but let’s get specific, because there is one baby who ruled the world before his name was even picked out. He had us all on the edge of our seat throughout his entire gestation, and is currently closer to ruling a country than any of us will ever be, and he can’t even talk yet.
That baby is not just any baby, but a ROYAL baby. Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, born on July 22nd, 2013 at 4:34 p.m. at St. Mary’s hospital to Kate Middleton and the Duke of Cambridge. However, although babies are a miracle, it is not the baby itself that is so miraculous, but the consequences that came after his birth. This idea of the influences from the child can be summed in three main points: from the social media, to the rescuing of the British economy, to finally the push for family trends, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge created more than just a child; they created a tidal wave of influences that span the globe.
First of all, to exemplify just how big this baby’s influence was on the social media world, according to blog on the British Council website, just in the Twitter world alone, the phrases #RoyalBaby and #RoyalBabyBoy, as well as similar hashtags, were used over six million times during the time period between the announcement and the birth. The announcement of the birth sparked 25 thousand tweets a minute, while 18 thousand tweets were sent a minute when the family made its first media appearance.
Secondly, the economy was influenced by this bouncing baby boy in a surprising way: fashion. An example is the bird decorated muslin wrap he was wrapped in by his parents when leaving the hospital. The muslin was sold out in less than a day in all available stores nationwide. An interesting fact is that it was identical to the one his father William wore when he was a baby according to Daily Mail. This one muslin is 45 euros, making it almost 62 American dollars. The fact that it sold out in less than day is just one example of how this little baby increased the profits of a single company and influenced an entire nation to go out and spend money to increase the British economy.
This is good news for the British nation. In the words of Chief U.K. Economist Howard Archer, “The birth of the royal baby has had an overwhelming positive effect on the U.K. growing during a time it may have otherwise been moving in the opposite direction.” According to an article written by Morgane Lapeyre and Gabi Thesing in the "Business Week Journal", sales of baby strollers alone will rise 13 percent, adding a 288 million pounds to the economy in the 12 months from July 1, 2013.
A conservative number estimated that the baby’s arrival added more than 240 million pounds or $380 million American dollars to the British economy. To detail this down, it was estimated that 4.8 million people spent 62 million pounds on alcohol, 25 million pounds on food for parties, and, for the biggest jaw dropping expense, 156 million pounds on a variety of products of China - collectibles, toys, books, DVDs and media. This is more than an economic boom, it’s an economic extravaganza. It’s not going to slow down either. According to Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, it will go from the “Kate Effect” to the “Prince George Effect” as mothers around the world follow the royal trend from his rattles, his first bike, his bibs and so on. It’s a culture of “Keeping up with the Cambridge’s” that isn’t going away. This release of billions of gross money erased the U.K.'s double dip recession, leveling it out and reducing the fall of the value of the pound.
Although it may not be glorious, a final way that the Royal Baby has had an effect on the economy is betting. Yes, gambling on such an innocent baby may seem a bit extreme, but it is a money-making business. According to the International Business Times, one may bet on anything from the baby’s first words, the name of his first girlfriend (or boyfriend), whether or not he will represent the U.K. in the Olympics, to a hundred other bizarre scenarios. This may seem ridiculous, but before the final date of birth, there were already 50,000 bets entered. This number is subject to grow throughout the child’s life, creating a sustainable, though odd, form of money growth in the economy.
And, last but not least, the third main idea is a push in family trends. On a more sensuous note, according to Daniel Johnson, a writer for "The Telegraph Journal", the “copy Kate” and “Royal Baby Effect” has caused a 60% increase in the sales of pregnancy tests and home fertility monitors since the Duke and Duchess announced their pregnancy in December, making it the largest increase for five years. The editor-in-chief of "Mother and Baby Magazine", Claire Irvin, says the Royal Birth has made the nation “broody,” as it would seem women are trying for a baby in the hope of experiencing their pregnancy alongside Kate. Last year, nearly 724 thousand babies were born, the highest in more than 40 years. Fortunately, the influential royal couple has used their baby-making power for good, encouraging other new parents to “go green” in their buying, just as they are since the eco products took a hit during the recession when people went more cost-effective.
Kate also happened to find a nice balance during her pregnancy to please a nation going through a recession. Kate did not want to appear too extravagant during the recession, but as a new mom it was okay to indulge, and she encouraged other new moms to do the same. She made strategic choices in what she wore and bought, sticking to British industries to influence others to do the same and increase the economy - a.k.a.: shop local. The happy couple also encouraged all the people of the world to send their gifts and money to other families in need or local charities instead of them as a way of celebrating the birth.
Works Cited:
International Business, Times. "Betting On The Royal Baby Name: Gambling Agencies
Favor 'George' As The Royal Baby Name." International Business Times 22 July
2013: Business Source Premier. Web. 2 Dec. 2014.
Johnson, Daniel. "Royal Baby Could Cause a Baby Boom in 'copy Kate' Effect, Experts
Predict." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 23 July 2013. Newspaper. 01 Dec. 2014
Lacey, Martha De. "The Prince George Effect Strikes Again... Already! Small Family
Firm behind £45 Christening Shawl 'besieged' by Requests." Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 25 July 2013. Newspaper. 24 Nov. 2014.
Lapeyre, Morgane, and Gabi Thesing. "Royal Baby Prince George Has Stroller Makers
In Suspense."Business week Journal (2013): 23.0. Business Source Premier.
Journal. 1 Dec. 2014.
Turkey, British Council. "#Welcome to the World Royal Baby." Turkey. N.p., n.d. Web.
28 Nov. 2014<http://blog.britishcouncil.org/turkey/2013/07/26/w...
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