Royal baby watch: Heathrow to honor ‘special arrival’ with T-shirts
London’s Heathrow Airport plans to celebrate the moment when Kate Middleton gives birth to a royal heir with a special gift for travelers: a T-shirt. Well, not just any old T-shirt but a royal purple one emblazoned with the words “Celebrating a Very Special New Arrival.”
The baby is expected to arrive any day now, though Middleton and Prince William have avoided confirming anything more specific than mid-July for a due date. Media are camped out on “baby watch” at the London hospital where she’s expected to be admitted.
On news of the baby’s birth, Heathrow announced Thursday, airport staffers will inform the first 1,000 passengers arriving in each terminal and present them with a T-shirt and a gift box containing Twining’s Tea and Walkers shortbread biscuits.
“Heathrow has a long and proud history of honoring the monarchy as it serves as the first point of contact for visitors looking to partake in royal frenzy,” an airport statement said.
The airport noted that New York is the most popular destination for Heathrow fliers (L.A. and Chicago are in the top 10), so some American travelers might get in on the festivities.
The planned event is hardly the first time the airport has honored the royals. Last year, Heathrow installed a “royal runway” for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, and it recently announced the in-the-works Terminal 2 will be dedicated to the queen.
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