Royal rattle for Prince George

Local craftsman, Geordie Smith, presented a baby rattle to Mayor Ian Hamilton Wednesday.

Hamilton will send it to Buckingham Palace.

In 1982 Smith was attending the College in Brockville, Ont. when Prince Charles and Princess Diana gave birth to their first son, William. Geordie had created a "royal baby rattle" and had the City of Brockville, Ont., who were celebrating their 150th anniversary, send the rattle to Buckingham Palace as a gift to Prince William. The City of Brockville received a thank you letter from Buckingham Palace.

This year, as the City of North Battleford celebrates its centennial, Prince William and Princess Katherine have given birth to their son, Prince George, and Smith has created another baby rattle for him.

"This is an initiative by a resident that coincides so nicely with our centennial, and it is a celebration of the arts in North Battleford," said Hamilton. "I am thrilled to have been presented with this and will gladly send it off."

City Archivist Tammy Donahue-Buziak will include the story about this in the centennial time capsule.

"I would like to believe this rattle will be Prince George's favourite toy!"