Joy of joys. It's a boy!

The official notice confirming that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a boy.

The women's lobby will be furious that it's a boy but there is no going back to change the result this time.

I expect there will be some who would have preferred IVF in the interests of parity but they will have to wait another generation to campaign for that. The Republican feminist Joan Smith has already been complaining on BBC Newsnight that there are now three generations of male heirs in line to the throne offering no chance of a black lesbian queen for the foreseeable future. The joy of secularism!

Pity poor Dave too. He has done his best to be relevant to ordinary people in society by pushing every conceivable politically correct fad that might give him some electoral advantage. Alas, all in vain this time. He will now have no further opportunities to play to the cameras while badgering Commonwealth countries to comply with his (adopted) view of equality. But hang on a minute. If equality of opportunity is the real aim, why not the best of the brood instead of the first born? Better a bright young thing than a possible dullard in fancy dress. No exams of course; just a simple selection panel - the CNC perhaps since the Sovereign is also Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Don't get me wrong. I am more than happy to be ruled by HM The Queen according to law but I am not happy with constant tinkering with the law especially when it does not address the real need for greater equality. Outside the Royal Family where the succession is already guaranteed, pity the poor gentry families in danger of losing their hereditary titles because only males may inherit. Do they deserve less? Granted there is no public demand for this but neither was there for same-sex marriage which has been rammed through parliament. Come on Dave. Time for another show of force.

Back in the real world what really matters is that women everywhere are safely delivered of a healthy child. The good news is that mother and baby are doing well but having gone through two difficult pregnancies myself my thoughts naturally are with the father.