After three weeks of limbo at the Lindo, it’s now madness at St Mary’s where press, wellwishers, and security staff have scrambled to be on the scene at the site where the Duchess of Cambridge is delivering the third in line to the throne.
There was a mad rush to the Paddington hospital in London following news that Kate and William had arrived and Kensington Palace confirmed the Duchess was in the early stages of labour.
The couple arrived at the hospital at around 5:30am from Kensington Palace after Kate had gone into labour naturally.
Snappers stationed at the hospital are reported to have spotted a Range Rover escorting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to one of the side entrances of the exclusive private wing where the royal baby is being delivered.
The Weekly arrived on the scene early this morning joining the growing crowd shortly following confirmation from the palace that the “great Kate wait” was over after they released a brief statement at around 7:30am.
As photographers man their ladders that have been in place opposite the wing’s entrance since the beginning of the month, loyal royal watchers camping at the hospital are staying in place and tourists have made the trip to soak up the atmosphere.
Stuart and Catherine Griffiths from Sydney made their second trip to the Lindo Wing from their nearby hotel to witness the historical moment.
“We came down the other day and there are a lot more people now, we had to come down when we heard the news,” Stuart tells The Weekly.
“It’s great to tell people back home to tell them we’re in London with the royal baby,” added Catherine.
“We were here for the Ashes so that was a disappointing result, it will be good to round off our stay with a bit of good news.”
American tourists Nichelle Adams from Dallas and Lovie Adams from Oklahoma changed their plans to witness the moment.
“This is history,” Lovie tells The Weekly.
“We were on our way to the museum and turned around when we heard the news.”
While some scrambled to make the trip to the hospital today, some have been waiting in place for more almost two weeks.
Royal watcher Terry Hutt has been sleeping on a bench in front of the Lindo Wing for twelve nights now and jumped from his “bed” around the time the Duchess arrived.
“I just knew,” he says.
“When I heard the thunder storms, I thought it was God up there letting us all know.”
John Loughrey, “Diana superfan”, joined Terry and the press pack seven days ago and he says he’s been to every royal event since 1981.
“This is my biggest ever,” the 58-year-old royalist says.
“I haven’t stopped spinning since I found out she was expecting. Once I know that the baby is healthy, and Catherine is healthy, I’ll be so happy. I know it will all be okay because Diana will be shining down on them too.”
There is also an increased security presence surrounding the private wing where the third-in-line to the throne is making its entrance into the world, with pregnant women entering the Wing being searched and police and hospital staff are controlling crowds and traffic.
Staff at the Starbucks coffee shop, just behind the press pen, are working flat out.
Crowds outside the hospital are expected to grow throughout the day and up until the heir’s arrival has been announced.
The Palace has confirmed that Prince William is by his wife’s side and the pair are accompanied by their official private press seceretary and two other press officers.
There has been no sign of any other members of the royal family entering the hospital, nor indications of their intentions to do so.
Grandparents Charles and Camilla are in Yorkshire and Uncle Harry is on duty at RAF Wattisham. The Queen is in Windsor and has no public engagements today, but has not announced any intention to visit the hospital.
The public are expected to first here of the birth via a public notice that will be driven to Buckingham Palace and displayed on an easel inside the palace gates — the very same one that was used to announce Prince William’s birth 31 years ago.
The announcement is not expected to include the baby’s name, which may not be known for days.
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