Kate Middleton’s Gynecologist Knighted By Prince William; Sir Marcus Setchell Honored For Delivering Royal Baby

The doctor in charge of helping The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, to bring Britain’s future ruler, HRH Prince George, into the world was knighted by the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, in London this week. Middleton’s gynecologist, Marcus Setchell, was reportedly gifted the honor not only for his most recent royal delivery in July prior to his retirement, but also for over two decades of serving as Queen Elizabeth’s surgeon-gynecologist.

According to a report from the UK’s Telegraph, the ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Following his knighting, in which the OB-GYN was dubbed Sir Marcus a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO), the 70-year-old appeared pleased with his new title.

“Well of course it’s a great honor and it’s very nice that I was able to serve [The Queen] for 24 years and that the culmination of it was that Prince George should be born,” said Setchell, who went on to give an update on Prince George, now seven months. “He’s got a great future,” said Setchell, reportedly laughing, before going on to describe the young royal as a “bouncing baby.”

When discussing his former profession, which he retired from shortly after delivering Prince George back in July, Setchell did reveal that the publicity surrounding Middleton’s delivery did make for “slight added tensions” during the birth. Despite the increased public interest, Setchell said delivering Prince George was a thrill. “Being a gynecologist and obstetrician must be one of the nicest jobs in the world,” said Setchell. “The job of doing it is just the same pleasurable, lovely experience and one hopes for the couple as well.”

Setchell helped Middleton delivered Prince George at a private Lindo wing at St Mary’s Hospital in London on July 22, 2013. He previously treated Middleton for morning sickness related issues, specifically hyperemesis gravidarum, during her pregnancy in December 2012.

Prince William last made headlines after confirming that Middleton, his wife three years next month, is not expecting despite multiple rumors of an alleged pregnancy. When prompted to address rumors of an impending second royal baby during a St. Patricks’ Day celebration in England Monday, William responded by saying, “One’s enough at the moment.”