- The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a baby girl at 8.34am this morning at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital
- Kate, 33, was admitted to the hospital at 6am this morning and was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge
- She welcomed her daughter just two-and-a-half hours later with Kensington Palace announcing the news at 11am
- The little girl is fourth-in-line to the throne and will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess (name) of Cambridge
The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby girl with the new princess arriving at 8.34am today a week overdue.
Weighing
8lbs and 3oz, she was born just two-and-a-half hours after Kate arrived
at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London,
with the Duke of Cambridge.
Both
Kate, 33, and her newborn daughter were said to have been 'doing well'
when the news came shortly after 11am today. The baby, whose name is not
yet known, will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess of Cambridge.
Scroll down for video
The Duchess of Cambridge has welcomed a
daughter, born this morning at 8.34. Weighing 8lbs and 3oz, the little
princess is the fourth-in-line to the throne. Her arrival was celebrated
outside The Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital (above) today
An easel was placed in the forecourt
of Buckingham Palace to confirm the baby's birth shortly after 12.30pm
to the delight of gathered crowds. The first signature is that of Guy
Thorpe-Beeston who led the medical team looking after Kate
The Royal Navy pays tribute to the
little princess by spelling out the word sister in formation on board
HMS Lancaster this afternoon
Kate, 33, was last seen at Buckingham
Palace after using the Queen’s swimming pool with her son, Prince
George, on April 29 (above). She was around one week overdue when she
gave birth to a baby girl this morning
Town crier
Tony Appleton made the above announcement on the steps of the Lindo Wing
this morning shortly after Kensington Palace released the news
Prince
William is due to return to Kensington Palace shortly. It is not known
whether he will bring Prince George back to the Lindo Wing to meet his
newborn sister.
The
announcement came by way of a statement released by Kensington Palace
shortly after 11am. It was then posted on the palace's official Twitter
page two minutes later.
'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am,' it said.
'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 and members of both families have been informed
and are delighted with the news.
'Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.'
At
around 12.30 a framed certificate signed by Kate's medical team was
placed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace with the same words.
The baby's name is not yet known but Alice and Charlotte are the most popular among bookmakers.
Prince
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall released a statement this afternoon
saying they were 'absolutely delighted' with the arrival of their
granddaughter while the Earl of Spencer, Prince William's uncle, said:
'It's wonderful news - we are all thrilled for all four of them.'
The
Prime Minister was among the first to congratulate the couple this
morning writing on Twitter: 'Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl.
'I'm absolutely delighted for them.'
He
was followed by Nick Clegg who said: 'Congratulations to the Duke &
Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their new baby. Miriam & I
wish them all the best as their family grows.'
Labour
leader Ed Miliband also offered his congratulations, writing on
Twitter: 'Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess on the birth of their
daughter. Wishing them lots of joy and happiness - and hopefully some
sleep!'
Nigel
Farage said he had told 'every Ukip candidate in the country to raise a
glass to the royal baby girl' today, adding, somewhat bizarrely, that
he was glad her weight (8lbs 3oz) had been given in imperial
measurements.
Kate was admitted to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital at 6am on Saturday morning, giving birth two-and-a-half hours later.
The
announcement was not made to the media until shortly after 11am once
the couple's close friends and family had been informed.
Kate
is expected to spend one night in Kensington Palace with her new
daughter and Prince George before retreating to Anmer Hall in Norfolk
with Prince William and her parents.
When news of the baby's birth was announced, chants of 'Princess! Princess!' could be heard outside the Lindo Wing.
At
around 12.30pm a golden easel was placed in the forecourt at Buckingham
Palace to display the traditional document signed by Kate's medical
team to confirm the birth.
The notice was, like last time, be printed on cream notepaper by Royal Warrant holders The Wren Press.
WATCH: Royal Baby Live
Tony
Appleton rings his bell to herald the arrival of the baby girl (left).
Flowers were seen arriving at the hospital shortly after midday (right)
A town crier celebrates outside the
hospital as members of the media react to the news that the Duchess of
Cambridge had given birth to a girl
A young girl poses for a photograph in
front of the golden easel which was placed in the forecourt of
Buckingham Palace this afternoon
Crowds gathered outside Buckingham
Palace this afternoon to take photographs of the golden easel which
bears a certificate confirming the birth
Well-wishers
gathered outside Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the easel which
bears a certificate signed by Kate's medical team to confirm the baby's
birth
A Metropolitan Police officer stands
in front of gathered crowds at Buckingham Palace after the announcement
the royal baby had been born
A well-wisher celebrates outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in royal paraphernalia and with a bottle of champagne
A well-wisher waves a balloon outside
the Lindo Wing this morning as royal fans begin to gather in the hopes
the Duchess of Cambridge will leave the hospital this afternoon with her
newborn daughter
Royal fans celebrate the news that the
Duchess gave birth to a daughter this morning after gathering outside
the Lindo Wing overnight. Some had spent more than a week outside St
Mary's Hospital with Kate having been expected to give birth in April
The Queen and Prince Andrew were in
good spirits as they attended The Royal Lancers amalgamation parade at
Richmond Castle in North Yorkshire this afternoon. The Queen wore pink
for the occasion
Meanwhile in Australia: Prince Harry
was seen at a football game as news of his niece's birth emerged.
Members of the royal family were told of the baby's arrival before it
was confirmed publicly
The Duchess
of Cambridge, pictured above on her final public engagements on March
27, was taken from her apartment at Kensington Palace to St Mary’s
Hospital in Paddington at 6am with Prince William by her side
