Royal baby girl: What being a second child means and how she'll be a very different 'spare to the heir'
Kensington Palace announced the birth of a daughter to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge late this morning
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Your support makes all the difference.The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have announced the arrival of a sister to Prince George.
While Prince William celebrates and the Duchess has a well-earned break before facing the media madness gathered outside, we examine how being the second child – not to mention the spare to the heir – may affect their daughter.
A YouGov poll in January of this year found that older siblings were more likely to be responsible than their younger brothers and sisters.
But, the poll also found that younger siblings are more likely to be funny (46 per cent compared to 36 per cent), as well as being more easy going and relaxed - which ties in with the perception of Princes William and Harry.
However, much of the data validity hinges on whether the Duke and Duchess decide to have another child.
Unfortunately for the child, as the eldest child Prince George is 34 per cent more likely to be successful – compared to 24 per cent for a youngest child. Given that he’s a dead-cert to inherit the throne of the United Kingdom (at some point) this seems a little unfair.
Stats also indicate that second children – and youngest ones especially – tend to feel more favoured by their parents.
The new baby joins a well-trodden path of “spares to the heir”, which includes Prince Harry, the Duke of York and the late Princess Margaret.
But she will face a very different future than previous spares after the Succession to the Crown Act of 2012. This ensures that should the Duke and Duchess have another male child, that baby will not take priority over his sister as has previously occurred.
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