“We could not be happier,” Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, announced in a brief statement after the birth of his son at 4:24pm (1:24am AEST). He was at his wife’ side during the labour.
The new royal baby, who is third in line to the throne, weighted in at 3.8 kilos.
The medical team was led by Marcus Setchell, who served for almost two decades as the Queen’s gynecologist and who has previously delivered several royals as well as that of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s.
The official statement from the Duke and Duchess’s residence at Kensington Palace read:
“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.”
As the birth of the new royal heir was announced, a loud cheer erupted outside St. Mary’s Hospital in west London – the same hospital where William was also born to the late Princess Diana in 1982.
Prince Will reportedly phoned his son’s great nan, the Queen, to deliver the good news, before passing it on to his dad, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince Harry. The Middleton family were also notified at the same time.
Now that the baby’s sex has been determined, all bets are on the royal name, with George tipped as the favourite by book-keepers. While the announcement of William’s name took over a week to emerge, it’s likely that his own son’s won’t be as delayed.
“It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy,” said Prince Charles of his first grandson.
Congratulations messages have begun flooding in as crowds, who have been camping outside both the hospital and Buckingham Palace for days, continue to flood in.
U.S. President Barack Obama and the first lady were among the first to welcome the birth.
“Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child,” he said. “We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings.”
Catherine and Will reportedly arrived at the hospital before 6am (London time), entering through a discreet back door in order to avoid the hoardes of international media who had gathered out the front.
The labour and birth reportedly progressed “normally”.
According to Us Weekly magazine, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand next Autumn, along with their new baby.
