Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Empress gives birth to false twins, Prince and Princess are born, Imperial Household says.
March 5650



The Imperial Household Ministry today confirmed that Her Imperial and Royal Majesty, Empress-Queen Valeria had given birth to false twins, one boy and a girl. The Emperor and Empress decided that the birth of the two princes was to be held in a private manner, in stark contrast to the pomp and ceremony surrounding the birth of Prince William, back in 5640. The Empress, due to the pregnancy, scaled back her official engagements to a minimum to "preserve her health", according to a statement from the Imperial Household Ministry, missing out on key events such as Tropping the Colour (celebrating Emperor Richard's Official Birthday) and the 5649 and 5650 State Openings of Parliament, the Empress will also miss Remembrance Day on April 1st. 

With these new royal babies, the Imperial Family grew from 3 members to five, with the Emperor and Empress at its core, Prince William and the two new prince and princess. Even though the Empress' physicians discouraged her from going to give birth at the Imperial Elizabeth Medical Center, so as to avoid "complications related to Her Majesty's health" according a trustworthy source within the Imperial Household. The Empress nevertheless took time to present her new babies to the press, as is Luthorian tradition, the Imperial Household also communicated on the twins' name, the boy was named Andrew, while the girl was named Sarah. Prince William has a 10-year gap with his little brother and sister, yet, when asked about how he felt about his mother's pregnancy in March, he stated in a jovial tone that he was "super excited to see [his] siblings". 

The birth of the two royal babies was held in strict intimacy at Stretton Castle, the monarch's official residence in the Grand Duchy of Erneshire, occupying that official spot with Rottingham Palace, which holds the nonetheless prestigious title of the monarch's summer holiday palace. Due to concern from doctors over Her Imperial Majesty's health, it was decided that taking on the long journey towards the Imperial Elizabeth Medical Center was not worth it, and other options such as Martyn Luthor's Hospital in Alchester were rejected. It was decided that like the birth of then Prince Richard to his mother, the Princess Royal, that the Empress-Queen would give birth in the Castle itself and that a specialised medical center would be set up within the Castle to help with the delivery.

Both babies were born relatively at the same hour, with Prince Andrew being the firstborn nonetheless, being born at 5:27 pm, according to the statement from the Imperial Household, while Princess Sarah was born at 5:51 pm. The Imperial Household also stated that the Empress was in "good health yet nonetheless under supervision" from her physicians in the aftermath of this double delivery, the two newborns were stated to be in "good health" by the Household. Emperor Richard II and the rest of the imperial family privately visited the newborn babies and their mother, with the Emperor being, according to sources within the Palace "overjoyed" and "likely wept" upon seeing his two children. 

The Imperial Household also stated that as of now, except if an imperial proclamation was decreed upon the styles and titles of the two newborn royals, they would, as of now, not hold any titles, at the difference of the Prince William, who as the eldest child of the Sovereign, automatically became Prince of Orange, Duke of Armstead and Porsley. Princess Sarah seems likely, upon the death of her grandmother, the Princess Royal, to succeed her title if the Sovereign wishes for it. Prince Andrew, for his part, might see yet another creation of a Peerage for him, most likely, the Duchy of Alchester.

The Imperial Household announced that the christening of the two princes will take place at the St. Peter Chapel at Rottingham Palace, where the monarch and his family will reside during the summer holidays, on July 3rd, 5640.