Britain has responded to the arrival of Tony and Cheri Blair's baby Leo with all the joy and enthusiasm normally reserved for royal births.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were among the first to send congratulations and flowers, and a massive bouquet quickly followed from President McAleese as good wishes and gifts began arriving from around the world. Mrs Hillary Clinton telephoned her friend Cheri at lunchtime on Saturday, as the Conservative leader, Mr William Hague, declared it a happy day for the country as a whole.
And while the proud father is expected to resume his prime ministerial duties in the Commons this week, the world's press will be awaiting the first official photograph of Downing Street's first baby in 150 years. Leo, named after Mr Blair's delighted father, is the first child born to a serving prime minister since Lord John Russell's time in office.
After the eagerly awaited official photograph, Mr and Mrs Blair are expected to try to close down media interest to ensure the same privacy for Leo they have successfully demanded and provided for their other three children.
Mrs Blair's father, actor Tony Booth, told reporters that his other grandchildren, Euan (16), Nicky (14), and Kathryn (12), were all thrilled with the arrival of their new brother.
Having maintained all along that the new arrival was a private family matter, the Blairs' aides and guards mounted a security operation of military precision which ensured the announcement of the birth itself was made only after Mrs Blair was safely returned to Downing Street at 3 a.m. on Saturday morning.
A delivery room at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital had been held ready for the previous three weeks, and regularly swept for hidden cameras and listening devices.
Mrs Blair's return home barely 2 1/2 hours after Leo's arrival confirmed immediately that this was a natural birth, as Mrs Blair had wished, despite reported pressure to consider a Caesarean section because of fears of complications for a mother of her age. Mrs Blair - who uses her own name, Cheri Booth, in her professional life - is 45.
She was admitted to the hospital at midday on Friday, and joined by her husband at 8.40 p.m. for the final stages of her labour. The blond baby boy arrived in the world at 12.25 a.m. weighing 6lb 12oz, and some 12 hours later his father - showing all the emotion of the joyous event - emerged before the cameras to speak about his "gorgeous" new son.
Having sat up with his wife until dawn, Mr Blair looked tired and drawn for the entirely unscripted event in which he shared his feelings about what for him had been a first: "I was there, and it was the first. I missed my middle one because he came very early.
"My eldest there were problems with, and my daughter was a Caesarean. It's the first time I have seen the whole thing through. It's quite a struggle."
Clutching a mug bearing a photograph of his other three children, Mr Blair said: "I feel . . . I feel like any father who sees their baby being born. It's very moving really, and if any of you have been through it you'll know. He's been really good through the night. The thing is, you forget how tiny they are, and also changing nappies in the middle of the night."
By yesterday the realities of new fatherhood had clearly sunk in.
Mr Blair took his other three children to worship at Westminster Cathedral, where he admitted feeling tired, having presumably had speedy confirmation that something other than Northern Ireland would now be keeping him awake.
"It definitely wasn't a quiet night," he told fellow worshippers. As for Cheri: "She's great, thank you very much," declared Mr Blair.
Inevitably, there was renewed speculation yesterday as to whether the new baby would impact on Mr Blair's intentions to serve a full second term in office, and, more immediately, on who might be invited to be Leo's godparents. Peter Mandelson and Gordon Brown were mentioned as possible contenders, although there were suggestions elsewhere that the Blairs might opt for family or friends out of the political spotlight.