The Unofficial Town Crier Tony Appleton Is At It Again, But Who Is This Mysterious Man?

The unofficial town crier Tony Appleton has done it again with the birth of the newest royal baby. At the birth of Prince George in 2013, Appleton stole the show with people wanting to learn more about this mysterious man that is determined to keep medieval royal traditions alive.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced the birth of a new princess this morning. Along with the official confirmation of birth from the palace, the unofficial town crier made the public decree from just outside of the gate to the St. Mary’s Hospital’s Lindo Wing where the Duchess gave birth. The man, dressed in his flamboyant traditional garb, grabbed the attention of all those in attendance with his signature bell ringing and “Hear Ye! Hear Ye!” The proclamation of the birth of the fourth in line to the throne was given.

“On this day, the second of May, the year 2015, we welcome with humble duty, the second born of their royal highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.”

Though town crier Appleton has been present at both the birth of Prince George and the newest Princess, he says he was not invited by the royal family. Instead, he notes that he comes on his own accord to keep the traditions alive. In fact, Appleton fooled the press who wrongly associated the man with the royal family. After the misunderstanding, Appleton noted at Prince George’s birth that he simply “crashed the party.”

“I decided I wanted to be the first person in the world who announced that birth. I’m the world’s biggest gate-crasher.”

Though Appleton admittedly does not work for the royal family itself, he says he is an official town crier and is the president of the Guild of International Millennium Town Criers. Therefore, Appleton has unofficially been a town crier for 25 years and says he has had an obsession with the royal family since he was a child. It all began when he met the Queen while she was doing a royal walkabout through the town. Since that encounter as a young boy, Appleton has done his best to honor the old town crier traditions for the family, invitation or not.

“I love the royal family, I love them to bits.”