An overjoyed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are the proud parents of a healthy baby boy, and the nation celebrates the birth of a future king.
The couple’s son weighed 8lb 6oz and was delivered at 4.24pm today at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington with his proud father, Prince William, looking on.
The world is impatiently waiting for a first glimpse of the future king as the Duchess of Cambridge prepares to leave hospital today.
An overjoyed Kate and her husband Prince William have started their first full day as proud parents of a ‘beautiful’ baby boy, as Britain continues to celebrate the prince’s birth.
The couple’s son was delivered at 4.24pm yesterday in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington weighing a bouncing 8lbs 6oz and with his proud father looking on.
Last night William slept there in a separate room to his wife and their little boy, and there is speculation that the family will leave for Kensington Palace together this afternoon.
The Queen’s Surgeon-Gynaecologist Marcus Setchell came to assess her at 8.30am this morning and will decide if the Duchess and baby can be discharged.
It has also been reported that the royal hairdresser followed the doctor into St Mary’s via its rear entrance, raising hopes that Kate could leave within hours.
Their prince could also be named today, with the bookies’ favourite currently being James, followed by George and Henry, but he has already been given the title His Royal Highness and will be known as Prince (Name) of Cambridge.
Last night great-grandmother the Queen said she was ‘delighted’ at the news while an overwhelmed Prince Charles exclaimed he was ‘overjoyed’ and ‘enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time’.
Prime Minister David Cameron said it was ‘a historic moment in the life of our nation’ but ‘above all, it’s a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who have got a brand new baby boy’. U.S. President Barack Obama led tributes from world leaders and said that the new baby’s birth was a ‘joyous occasion’.
The young prince’s first night in the world was an eventful one, because London was hit with a number of violent thunderstorms after what had been the hottest day of the year so far.
Meanwhile well-wishers partied late into the night outside Buckingham Palace, even in the thunder, lightening and torrential rain.
The child is now third in the line of succession, displacing Prince Harry to fourth and the Duke of York to fifth, although he may not become sovereign for half a century or more.