It had to be the birth of the year, paparazzi photographers were at the ready[1] in Nice in the south of France as news spread that Angelina Jolie had given birth to twins, one girl, one boy.
Newspapers wasted no time announcing the happy news that their staff pitched outside the Lenval hospital building, scanning that any sight of happy father Brad Pitt or just about anyone else connected to the event.
Jolie aged 33 picked a hospital near the glamourous Promenade des Anglais for the birth. Pitt and Jolie, seen here / during their recent visit to the Cannes film festival, named the twins Vivienne Marcheline, and Knox Leon. Marcheline was the name of Angelina`s actress mother who died of cancer last year. The paparazzi were finally rewarded when Jolie's doctor Michel Sussman along with the mayor of Nice made an appearance on the hospital steps.
Sussman told Reuters both parents and babies were in "excellent health". He said the caesarian section birth had been brought forward for medical reasons.
The birth drew a mixed reaction in Nice. Some were caught up in the mood of the moments.
I'm happy for them. It must have been a wonderful occasion. It always is when you have a baby, isn't it?
Others kept a firm sense of proportion.
It's ridiculous.
It's ridiculous, really?
Yeah, absolutely they are just two people and had kids and they, just they've made far too much out of it.
Please, take care of them. Because, with so many children and I don't know if you can do that.
The twins bring the Pitt-Jolie broods[2] to six. Local newspaper Nice Matin reported that the couple had sold exclusive rights, the first photographs of the babies to an unnamed US magazine for 11 million US dollars and will give the money to charity.
The celebrity couple, known in the media as "Brangelina", moved into a 17th century villa in Provence, France, earlier this year.
Penny Tweedie, Reuters
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Footnotes:
at the ready: ready for immediate action or use