There’s a new royal baby in town! The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, the Palace announced on Monday.
The Palace revealed the happy news on social media, saying the little boy was delivered just before noon.
“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs,” the royal family said. “The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”
The new baby is the fifth in line to the throne, bumping his uncle Harry further down the ladder to sixth place.
Catherine and Prince William are expected to present their new bundle of joy to the world on the steps of the St Mary’s Hospital in London in the coming hours, as they did with their other children Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2.
The Queen and Prince Philip, along with the rest of the royals, shared their delight at the news in a short statement on Twitter, saying: “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.”
The royals are yet to reveal the baby’s name, but punters have placed money on Albert, Arthur and Louis. Arthur and Louis are Prince William’s middle names.
Each named is steeped in royal history and would follow William and Catherine’s penchant for choosing traditional names for their children.
The new baby carries the official title of his Royal Highness Prince (name to come!) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
As is tradition, a bulletin notice declaring the birth will go on display on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Shortly after the birth, a town crier announced news dressed in traditional clothing on the steps of the Lindo wing outside the hospital.
The Palace announced Catherine had gone into labour on Monday morning, local time, and that William was by her side at the hospital. The world’s media quickly gathered outside the hospital and dozens of royal fans eagerly waited nearby hoping to catch a glimpse of the new baby when the Duke and Duchess present him for the first time.