Royal baby number three is here! Kate gives birth to a baby boy
The royal baby is finally here! The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby boy on Monday. The royal family officially announced the birth of their son, who is Prince William and Kate Middleton's third child. The Duchess brought their son into the world at 11 am local time at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London.
According to the Kensington Palace representative, the family couldn't be happier with the news. "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," they said in a statement, according to CNN. The child weighs in at a healthy 8lbs 7oz.
They also confirmed Kate and the baby are happy and healthy. The statement confirmed, "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." The couple already has Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, who is 2. This child would be fifth in line for the British throne. The name of the baby hasn't yet been revealed.
Kate and William's two other children were born at the same hospital in 2013 and 2015. Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born at the Lindo Wing at the popular hospital. It now appears to be their family maternity home, as Prince William was born at the same hospital, years ago.
Kate who had been avoiding public appearances since March had the whole world waiting with bated breath as she was taken to the medical facility after she was reported to be in labor.
Royal fanatics, who had been camped outside the hospital wing for several days in anticipation, jumped for joy and popped open champagne. "We're going to celebrate with fish and chips!" said John Loughrey, who was wearing a Union Jack hat and clutching a plastic doll with a crown.
Maria Scott, 46, a housewife from Newcastle in northeast England, has been in place for 15 days.
"It's really important to show support because they need to know how much they are loved by the people," she told AFP. "We're very proud of our monarchy."
Tony Appleton, a town-crier dressed in a flamboyant red uniform, announced the news from the steps of the hospital's Lindo Wing to a crowd of supporters and media.
The baby was born on St George's Day, England's national day.
Name speculation
The baby boy is a sixth great-grandchild for Queen Elizabeth, who turned 92 on Saturday, and her husband Prince Philip.
It will hold the title of prince after Queen Elizabeth changed the rules in 2012 to ensure that all of William's children would be entitled to the style, not just his eldest son.
As with their two previous children, the royal couple did not know whether the baby was going to be a boy or a girl.
Bookmakers have Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip as their favourites for the young prince's name.
The boy does not overtake Charlotte in the line of succession due to new laws agreed across the 16 Commonwealth realms where Queen Elizabeth is the head of state, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Under the law, designed to end male primogeniture for William's children, boys born after October 28, 2011 cannot overtake their elder sisters.
A night at the Lindo Wing costs £7,500 ($10,500, 8,550 euros), including a delivery package and two-room suite, excluding consultants' fees.
The birth was overseen by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston, who is the surgeon gynaecologist to the royal household, and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist.
They were part of the trusted team who also delivered George and Charlotte.
The duchess suffered severe morning sickness during all three pregnancies.
Gun salutes planned
William, who is destined to become king after Charles, and Kate met at St. Andrews University in Scotland.
They tied the knot at Westminster Abbey in London on April 29, 2011, in a ceremony watched by up to two billion people worldwide. The marriage helped breathe new life into Britain's monarchy after years of crisis.
The Sun newspaper reported Sunday that Kate's sister Pippa Middleton, 34, is pregnant with her first child.
Kate's maid of honour famously stole the show at her and William's wedding with a figure-hugging dress.
The birth will be celebrated with a 41-gun salute in London's Green Park Hyde Park — the standard 21 rounds with an extra 20 because they are royal parks.