History Today, August 1st, 2004
SMALL BUT WELL-FORMED, the baby was born at 6.24 am in his parents' apartments on the ground floor of the palace of Versailles after three hours of labour. The fashionable obstetrician Dr Jard had been summoned and a message sent to the baby's grandfather, King Louis XV, who was at Choisy. Authoritative witnesses at a royal birth were essential, to forestall cynical whispers later, and the Chancellor and the Keeper of the Seals were both present. The new arrival was promptly baptised Louis-Auguste by the royal chaplain on duty and the king came riding in hotfoot from Choisy to see his new gr...
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