By Claudia Joseph and Gethin Chamberlain PUBLISHED: 17:19 EST, 27 July 2013 | UPDATED: 04:01 EST, 29 July 2013 He began life in a slum apartment in the backstreets of Calcutta, yet rose to become the Royal footman who announced Prince George’s birth to an expectant nation. To the cheers of thousands of people standing patiently outside Buckingham Palace, it was Badar Azim who strode proudly across the courtyard with the Queen’s Press Secretary Ailsa Anderson to mount the official acknowledgement of the baby’s safe arrival on an ornate easel. Resplendent in his scarlet and black footman’s outfit, the uniform gave no clue to his humble background.
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Badar Azim, 25, came to the UK thanks to an orphanage scholarship
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He found himself taking a lead role in announcing Prince George's birth
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His family of nine live in just two rooms back in India
Badar Azim
Badar Azim
But although @placeholder’s father was barely able to afford to put food on the table, he valued the importance of education and scrimped and saved to send Badar to school.
Badar Azim
Badar Azim
But although Badar’s father was barely able to afford to put food on the table, he valued the importance of education and scrimped and saved to send @placeholder to school.
Buckingham Palace
‘It took him a good few months to get the job at the @placeholder – he had a first interview and then the staff had to check out his credentials in India.