Royal Baby Photos Expected To Shatter Twitter Records, Boost Magazine Sales
Royal baby photos are expected to be released soon, and as the anticipation for pictures of Prince George builds several industries are expecting a boost.
The first royal baby photos actually came within hours of Prince George’s birth, when Kate Middleton emerged from the hospital with the newborn swaddled in her arms.
Since his birth Kate and Prince William have been staying at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, where grandmother Carole and grandfather Michael Middleton have been helping out. Reports from the UK say that the first authorized royal baby photos will come from Carole and Michael.
After Kate MIddleton and Prince William pick which photos they like best, they will be released to the world via Kensington Palace’s Twitter feed. Sources say Kate is looking for a photo that looks natural, not posed.
The royal baby photos are expected to shatter Twitter records for re-tweets. The record currently stands with a photo taken shortly after President Obama’s re-election, which garnered more than 500,000 re-tweets.
The photos are also considered a boon for celebrity magazines. Facing declining sales in the first half of the year, these publications have found new highs due to the royal baby. The August 5 issue of People magazine, featuring Prince George on the cover, was the best-selling issue so far this year.
Royal news has generally been a top-selling item for celebrity publications. After Princess Diana’s death in 1997, People magazine had its best-selling issue ever when it placed her on the cover. The 2011 royal wedding also brought brisk sales, and though a bit more controversial, several European publications saw high sales last summer when they published topless photos of Kate Middleton.
As the royal baby photos are released, the high magazine sales are expected to continue, industry experts say.
“There’s definitely been a royal baby boom,” said Mike Steele, editor in chief of Us Weekly. “Our readers love Will and Kate. They’re unique among public figures because they’re 100 percent likable.”
Kensington Palace has not yet given an indication of when the first royal baby photos could be released.
