Now we are five: Kate, William, George and Charlotte welcome new arrival
BREAKING: After hours of anticipation, the newest member of the royal family has finally arrived. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have welcomed their third child - a baby boy.
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BRITAIN is celebrating the birth of a new royal baby, with Prince William’s wife Catherine delivering a healthy baby boy overnight in London.
The precious little prince arrived at 11.01am London time (8.01pm AEST) at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, and mother and baby were both doing well.
Prince William was by his wife’s side as she went into labour earlier on Monday morning.
The child, whose name will be revealed in coming days, weighed 3.9kg. He is the third child for Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William and will be fifth in line to the throne.
“Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 11.01hrs,’’ Kensington Palace tweeted.
“The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
“The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip), the Prince of Wales (Prince Charles), the Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla), Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news,’’ the palace said.
The child, who will be known as His Royal Highness Prince (name) of Cambridge, is a younger sibling to Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who is also three.
He was delivered in the private Lindo Wing, where Catherine, 36, also gave birth to her older children.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018
The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
The palace made the anouncement on Twitter and in a second tweet said that the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry have all “been informed and are delighted with the news”.
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Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018
The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.
Earlier, the Metropolitan Police had set up barricades outside the hospital as the British press, and hundreds of dedicated royal fans, rushed to stake out positions in the hopes of seeing Catherine and the new baby.
Royal fans who had been camped outside the hospital for hours were in tears following the news, which was announced by a town crier and burst into song and cheers.
Christine Morgan, 60, told News Corp she was delighted.
“ I had inkling it would be a boy, my own daughters’ (birthday) was yesterday so it’s very exciting,” Ms Morgan said.
“I think if they call him Albert or Bertie for short that will be just marvellous.”
Sydney woman Jenny Cook lives in Paddington and said she decided to pop down to the hospital when she heard Catherine had gone into labour.
“I’m just hoping I might be able to get a glimpse (of the new baby),” she said.
“I’ve been living here for three years and living so close does make it more exciting.”
Amy Thompson, 18, had been camping out for 15 days.
“I was just 11 when Kate and William got married,” Ms Thompson said.
“I was here for George and Charlotte and just love the family.”
“ I couldn’t be happier.”
John Loughrey, 62, broke into song following the announcement.
“It’s a very important day for Britain and I think St George is happy,” he said, referring to one of Britain’s saints.
The world’s media are gathered outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital ahead of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s third child. pic.twitter.com/FLr1lL2AyT
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018
The 36-year-old Duchess had continued working until March 22 then went on maternity leave, although she was seen attending a church service with the Queen and other royal family members at Easter.
The new baby will be fifth in line to the throne behind grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William, and siblings George and Charlotte.
Prince Harry, William’s brother, falls back to sixth in the line of succession and all other royal members shuffle down a further step.
Kensington Palace announced the pregnancy in early September after Catherine became ill with Hyperemesis Gravidarium, or extreme morning sickness. She missed several public events, including Prince George’s first day at school. She had suffered the same condition in the early stages of her previous pregnancies.
The Duchess recovered after several months and resumed her busy royal schedule.
Kensington Palace said the medical staff who assisted in the birth were Mr Guy Thorpe-Beeston, Surgeon Gynaecologist to the Royal Household, Alan Farthing, Surgeon Gynaecologist to Her Majesty The Queen, Dr Sunit Godambe, Consultant Neonatologist at Imperial College NHS Trust and Professor Huw Thomas, Physician to Her Majesty The Queen and Head of the Medical Household.
Scene at the #LindoWing #Paddington on the news that the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted this morning. Still fairly quiet on the press front. #RoyalBaby pic.twitter.com/hdLmFYadc2
— Paddington (@inpaddington) April 23, 2018
British media had earlier speculated that the baby would arrive on April 28-29, as she took leave 38 and 37 days before the arrival of her last two babies.
The new baby will be fifth in line to the throne, behind grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William, and siblings George and Charlotte.
Prince Harry, William’s brother, falls back to sixth in the line of succession and all other royal
members shuffle down a further step.
Like most modern dads, Prince William was at the child’s birth, as he was for the arrival of Prince George on July 22, 2013, and Princess Charlotte, on May 2, 2015.
Kensington Palace announced the pregnancy in early September after Catherine became ill with Hyperemesis Gravidarium, or extreme morning sickness. She missed several public events, including Prince George’s first day at school. She had suffered the same condition in the early stages of her previous pregnancies.
The Duchess recovered after several months and resumed her busy royal schedule.
The arrival of the new baby will herald the start of a joyous few months for the British royal family.
On Saturday, Queen Elizabeth marked her 92nd birthday by attending a pop concert in London, along with several members of the royal family, raising money for charity.
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On May 19, Prince Harry and his glamorous American fiancee Meghan Markle will marry at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, an event expected to be watched by billions of people around the globe through mainstream and social media.
Another of the Queen’s grandchildren, Zara Tindall, is expecting her second child with husband, former England rugby great Mike Tindall, in coming weeks.
And Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew the Duke of York and his former wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, will marry her fiance Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel on October 12.
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Bookmakers in the UK suggest the most likely names for the new baby will be Arthur or Edward.
William and Catherine had opted not to know the baby’s gender in advance.
The palace will place a formal notice on an easel outside Buckingham Palace to officially announce the news.
The baby’s name will be announced in coming days.
THE WORLD CONGRATULATES WILLIAM AND KATE
Mesages of congratulations are pouring in for the royal parents on the news of the birth of their third child.
“My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them great happiness for the future,” tweeted British Prime Minister Theresa May
My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them great happiness for the future.
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) April 23, 2018
“On behalf of Londoners, I want to send our warmest congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy,” said London mayor Sadiq Khan
British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted “Congratulations to Kate and William on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them all the very best.”
Westminster Abbey also tweeted it message of congratulations.
Warmest congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their third child. The Abbey's bell ringers will ring a full peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal, starting at 1pm tomorrow, in celebration #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/9diiLgHL0X
— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) April 23, 2018
And Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted his and his wife’s support: “Canada welcomes a baby boy to the Royal Family!”
Canada welcomes a baby boy to the Royal Family! Sophie & I send our congratulations to William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and to George and Charlotte on the new arrival.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 23, 2018
“Huge congratulations to Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the safe delivery of their baby boy today,” said British foreign secretary Boris Johnson
And Little Britain comedian David Walliams tweeted “Prince Harry just got demoted again.”
Originally published as Now we are five: Kate, William, George and Charlotte welcome new arrival