INNISFAIL – It was a celebration fit for royalty.
Innisfail and area residents welcomed the newest addition to the Royal Family with a Royal Baby Tea at the Innisfail and District Historical Village on May 11.
The event was scheduled weeks in advance, with the royal baby expected sometime in April, but instead, Archie Harrison, first child of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, was born on May 6.
“He accommodated us, didn’t he?" said Anna Lenters, board president for the Innisfail and District Historical Society. “I was surprised by (the name) Archie. It seems very informal.
“I think maybe this is a sign of the times. They are young, modern parents,” she added. “We are very happy for them.”
Lenters noted it was just a year ago this month (May 19) that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married. The historical village held a Royal Wedding Tea to celebrate the couple’s nuptials.
“At that time we laughed and said, 'well, maybe next year (there will be a baby)' and indeed here we are,” said Lenters, noting a good crowd of about 40 people at the event. Many were returnees from the Royal Wedding Tea held last May.
“There’s been a lot of visiting going on,” she said. “People just seem to be enjoying themselves and are celebrating spring and a royal baby.”
Guests dined on sandwiches, deviled eggs, strawberries and ice cream, along with tea and coffee, and of course, birthday cake.
In addition, the village had several historical baby items on display to mark the occasion.
“The historical items are artifacts that are the property of the historical society and they’re all baby related,” explained Lenters. “There’s christening gowns, a silver baby cup, baby dolls, a bonnet and a carriage. They are things you associate with an infant.
“It’s a chance for us to share some of our older artifacts and let people see them. Some of those christening gowns date back to the early 1800s,” said Lenters.
Marilyn Walker, one of several local royal watchers celebrating the royal birth, was delighted by the news.
“I was surprised (by the name) but I understand it’s a very popular name in England right now,” said Walker. “I would have thought it would be something more traditional like Philip.
She noted the baby boy is the Queen’s eighth great-grandchild.
“I’m sure she’s excited too,” said Walker. “They are such a lovely couple.”
