The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor wrapped in a hand-finished Merino wool shawl made by UKFT member G.H. Hurt & Son.

The Nottingham-based company has been designing and manufacturing fine lace knitwear since 1912, specialising in women’s shawls and scarves, baby christening shawls and a variety of heritage knitted lace products.

The shawl worn by the newborn is the ‘Leaves and Flowers Baby Shawl’, in white.

“Since 1912, we have been designing and innovating lacy knitted patterns into classic and timeless shawls,” said Gillian Taylor, director of G.H. Hurt & Son. “Each ‘Leaves and Flowers Baby Shawl’ is made of two separate knitted pieces, which are then hand finished and joined with a pretty shell edge on all four side. This creates a large but light and airy feel, perfect to wrap a baby.

“The cute cashmere hat used was also one of ours. It is normally available as a set, complete with mittens.”

She added: “We feel so proud and honoured that Harry and Meghan have chosen our beautiful Merino wool lacy knitted baby shawls and in doing so have continued a royal tradition now going back over 70 years.”

The family-run business, in its third, fourth and fifth generation, remains true to its original values with new designs that draw inspiration from its Nottingham handframe knitting heritage. Fifth-generation James Taylor, who is marketing and operations executive, said: “We’re really happy for HRH the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and their healthy newborn boy, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. It’s fantastic for the whole city of Nottingham that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have continued the tradition of using a product connected to the city’s heritage.”

The company’s collection of vintage handframe machines, designed by Rev. William Lee in 1589, work alongside the most modern knitting technology to produce exquisite fashion products.

For more information, please visit www.ghhurt.com