Prince William appeared outside the hospital in London this afternoon to drive to pick up Prince George and Princess Charlotte to meet their new younger brother, a boy weighing 8lbs 7oz, telling reporters: ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’
Bookmakers have reported a surge in bets on the name Arthur for the royal baby, who is fifth in line to the throne. The boy is also the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s sixth great-grandchild.
Kensington Palace announced that the baby was born at 11am, after Kate was taken by car before 6am to the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
William was present for the birth, and both Kate and the child were ‘doing well’, according to a palace spokesman. Senior members of the royal family were said to be ‘delighted with the news’.
Royal watchers had been expecting a swift delivery at the Lindo Wing, with the child sharing a birthday with William Shakespeare and Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent.