Royal Baby Subject of Questions at White House Press Briefing

The immediate influence of His Royal Babiness reaches into the heart of Washington, D.C.

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Reporters prodded Press Secretary Jay Carney about plenty of hard-hitting, serious, geopolitical issues during press briefings over the past two days. But either side of immigration and Syrian rebels, they also asked questions about the new son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge–because, let’s face it, even the minds of political wonks are subject to His Royal Babiness.

On Monday, as Kate Middleton lay in labor, a reporter asked Press Secretary Jay Carney about what message the Obamas might send to the new parents:

Q    Quickly, on a happier note — or on a lighter note, I should say — can you give us any information on what the President and Mrs. Obama plan to give the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the occasion of the birth of their first child?  And do they have a message for them?

MR. CARNEY:  Well, I have no insight into the first part of that question.  I would tell you that, like so many Americans, the President and First Lady and the entire First Family wait with anticipation for the birth of the Duke and Duchess’s child, and wish the family and all of Great Britain well on this pending momentous occasion.

Q    He will get them something?

MR. CARNEY:  We’ll see.

Later, once the baby boy was heralded outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London, the Obamas did indeed release a message to the new parents–alluding the the “special relationship” between our two countries first named by Winston Churchill:

Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child.  We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings.  The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations.  Given the special relationship between us, the American people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince.

Today, reporters couldn’t help but pry for a little more information about what memorial token the Obamas might be giving the most famous newborn in the world:

Q    Following up from yesterday, have did the Obamas decided what to give the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — (laughter) — for the birth of their first child?

MR. CARNEY:  I have no new information about potential gifts.  I would like to say that I think James would be an excellent choice in name — (laughter) — just a thought.

Jay, of course, is short for James. As of Tuesday, the Royal Parents said they were “still working” on a name. D.C. reporters, meanwhile, are presumably working on royal-baby follow-ups for Wednesday.

Jay Carney

Susan Walsh / AP