Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am.
The newest addition to the Royal Family and the fourth in line to the British Throne was born at 8.34 UK time, weighing 8lbs 3oz.
The announcement came today via Kensington Palace in a series of tweets:
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am.
The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales & The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry & members of both families have been informed.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
Like when Prince George was born, the official notification of the royal birth has been marked with the age-old custom of placing a paper proclamation on an easel behind the iron railings of Buckingham Palace.
While the new baby’s name is yet to be announced, the official royal title will follow the same naming pattern of big brother George– that is, His/Her Royal Highness Prince (name) of Cambridge.
Catherine was admitted to the private Lindo wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London ahead of the birth as the waiting media gathered outside in anticipation.
The Queen, who is delighted by the new royal addition, was the first to know if the pair welcomed a Prince or a Princess.
This is of course the second child for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who welcomed His Royal Highness Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge in July 2013.
Duchess Catherine’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton moved into William and Catherine’s new family home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk recently to help the proud parents with their new arrival after housekeeper suddenly quit recently.
Duchess Catherine is very close with her parents and after Prince George’s arrival, spent time recuperating and adjusting to her new life as a mum at her childhood home with them in Bucklebury Berkshire. This is where the first official family portrait was taken with a newborn Prince George.
This time though, the Middletons are believed to be coming to Catherine as the family are now better settled into Anmer Hall after renovations were finally completed on the ten-bedroom estate late last year. It was originally gifted to the couple as a wedding gift from the Queen in 2011.
Duchess Kate also turned to her parents for support throughout the difficult early days of her pregnancy. Just as with Prince George, poor Kate suffered badly with Hyperemesis Gravidarum– an illness similar to an extreme form of morning sickness.
Catherine had to cancel many official public appearances in the early stages as a result but this year, in the later stages she has been as busy and active as ever, attending many official engagements at which her stylish maternity outfits inevitably sold out of shops straight away!
With news of the newborn’s arrival breaking around the world, the palace has been inundated with congratulations from the public, from world leaders and even Hollywood stars alike on social media.
Bookmakers will no doubt be eager to hear of the news of the new royal arrival too as over 80% of their punters had odds on the new bub being a girl. As to the name? Alice was the strong favourite in the lead up to the birth, with odds being slashed from from 8/1 to 3/1, Elizabeth followed close with odds of 5/1, then Charlotte with odds of 11/2.
Punters even placed bets on what the Duchess will wear when she leaves the hospital – last time she favoured blue, so of course this time punters are leaning towards pink – with odds of 4/1.
Wishing the royal couple many congratulations on their new arrival!