LAUNCESTON City Council will write a letter to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge congratulating them on the birth of their second child and inviting them to visit on a future trip to Australia.
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The motion by Alderman Simon Wood came on the back of the selection of the national gift being a cot blanket from Waverley Woollen Mills.
``Regardless of whether you're a monarchist or a republican, the birth of a child is a happy occasion - I guess the main point, is that for the small cost of postage, Launceston could be on the front foot,'' Alderman Wood said.
``It's potentially a great opportunity to spruik Launceston, with the possibility of showcasing Launceston nationally and internationally, if a visit were to occur.''
Deputy Mayor Rob Soward said although he is a proud republican he felt the positive coverage of such a visit from the young royal family, would only be a good thing to the city.
Alderman Emma Williams and Alderman Andrea Dawkins said they could not support the motion.
``...I find it difficult to single out this particular family as our concern - a couple of weeks ago, walking through the middle of Launceston, there was a young couple begging with their newborn baby and I think that really to me, I cannot put the two things, in my mind, together,'' Alderman Williams said.
``Wouldn't it be wonderful if all new born baby's could be given a Waverley Woollen Mills blanket and not just this particular one and just think what a difference that would make to our city.''
Alderman Andrea Dawkins said Australia was now one of the most socially conservative nations in the post-industrialised world and the motion only reinforced that.
