Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge welcome third child

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have showed the world their third child, a boy, who is fifth in line to the throne.

William and Kate pose with their newborn baby son as they leave the Lindo wing at St Mary's Hospital in London. Picture: AFP.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have welcomed a new prince into the world.

Their second son, after Prince George, was born at 1101am UK time and weighed in at 3.8 kilograms after his mother spent five hours in labour.

William and Kate’s newborn baby son. Picture: Getty.

The royal birth kicks along a signature month for the royal family, with the Queen turning 92 last Saturday and Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle to come on May 19.

Prince William was present for the birth and “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news,” as announced via Twitter by Kensington Palace.

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.

The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018

In a mix of tradition and modernity, the palace used Twitter but the news was also posted on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

Standing on the steps of the hospital, a liveried crier announced the birth to a throng of wellwishers and media. A declaration signed by the medical team that attended Kate was collected by a royal aide and whisked under police escort to Buckingham Palace.

"God save the Queen!" - A town crier announces the birth of a baby boy on the steps of the Lindo Wing #RoyalBaby pic.twitter.com/IHeluWKMAm

— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 23, 2018

The baby’s name, which has been subject to a flurry of bets, hasn’t been announced. Arthur and James are among bookmakers’ favourites for the new Prince. Monday is St. George’s Day, England’s national day, but the baby is unlikely to be given the name since his older brother already has it.

The new baby is now 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.

A notice has been placed on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace following the announcement of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's third child.@KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/82ZCB7F2aQ

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 23, 2018

As with her two previous pregnancies, Kate, 36, suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness which can cause severe nausea and vomiting and require supplementary hydration and nutrients.

Kate’s last engagement ahead of the birth was on March 22 when she and William attended a number of events in London to celebrate the Commonwealth ahead of a meeting of its leaders last week.

The birth was overseen by a team of doctors including consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing - who were also called in for the births of George and Charlotte - as well as the hospital’s midwives.

Charlotte and George are led by their father to visit their mother. Picture: AFP

WELCOME SURPRISE

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did not know their child’s gender. During routine scans William and Kate did not ask if they would be welcoming a son or daughter - opting to be surprised as with the Duchess’s previous pregnancies.

Police barricades had been set up outside the hospital as royal watchers and the British press gather outside.

ROYAL WATCHERS GATHERED

Some fans have been camped out for 15 days hoping for a glimpse of the royal baby. The world’s media began to gather outside the Lindo Wing on Monday morning after Kensington Palace announced Kate had been admitted in the early stages of labour.

Members of the public crane to have a look at the royal newborn. Picture: AFP

The timing of the announcement, falling on St George’s Day, added to the occasion for waiting royalists outside.

“We are so pleased. We have been here for 15 days,” said royal watcher John Loughrey, 63.

“I’m so pleased it’s St George’s Day. St George himself would be very pleased if the baby’s born today.” Mr Loughrey said he plans to celebrate the birth with English flags and a portion of fish and chips.

One of many royal watchers who have been camped outside the hospital for days. Picture: Twitter

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl as long as it’s a healthy baby and a healthy mother,” he said.

“It’s very good for our country and of course Her Majesty the Queen.” Another member of his group, 82-year-old Terry Hutt.

People and the press clamour to catch a glimpse of the new royal baby. Picture: Getty

GOVERNOR-GENERAL ISSUES STATEMENT

Australia’s Governor-General Peter Cosgrove issued a statement on behalf of Australians to the royals.

“Lynne and I send you our warmest congratulations on the birth of a new Royal prince. On behalf of all Australians, we send your family our best wishes at this happy and special time,” the statement read.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing with their newborn son. Picture: Getty

KATE AND WILLS’ LIFE IN THE PUBLIC EYE

September 2001: Prince William and Kate Middleton meet at St. Andrews University in Scotland where they are both studying art history.

* Christmas 2003: The pair reportedly become a couple after sharing a house together with two friends. In March they are pictured together on a skiing holiday in Switzerland.

* November 16, 2010: William and Kate’s engagement is announced. The prince proposed to Kate while on a private holiday to Kenya the previous month.

* April 29, 2011: The pair wed in a lavish ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey. William is made the Duke of Cambridge by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Kate becomes the Duchess of Cambridge.

* December 3, 2012: The palace announces that Kate is pregnant and being treated in the hospital for acute morning sickness. The palace later announces that the baby is due in July.

* June 19, 2013: It is confirmed Kate is planning to give birth at the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington in central London, where Princess Diana gave birth to William and Prince Harry.

* July 22, 2013: Kate gives birth to a baby boy, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces (3.8 kilograms), with William by her side.

* July 24, 2013: Royal officials say the new prince, who is third in line to the throne, has been named George Alexander Louis

* September 8, 2014: Kensington Palace announces the duchess is pregnant with the couple’s second child.

* May 2, 2015: Kate gives birth to a daughter, weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces (3.7 kilograms).

* May 4, 2015: The palace says the new princess is named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

* September 4, 2017: The palace announces Kate pregnant with the couple’s third child.

* September 7, 2017: Prince George starts school at Thomas’s Battersea, a private school not far from the family’s home at Kensington Palace. His father drops him off on the first day; Kate is too ill with morning sickness to join them.

* March 22, 2018: Kate completes her final royal engagement before going on maternity leave.

* April 23, 2018: The palace says Kate has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital in the early stages of labour.

* April 23, 2018: Kate gives birth at 11:01am to a boy weighing eight pounds, seven ounces (3.8kgs).

Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge holds her newly born third child. Picture: AFP

With AP