royal baby
Here we go, Kate . . .
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, went into labour last night — and she and husband William were waiting to see if their new baby is a boy or a girl.
A tweet from Kensington Palace broke the news on the official Twitter and Instagram accounts. “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour,” the post read. “[She] travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital with the Duke of Cambridge.”
As in her previous pregnancies, Catherine was likely to have a team of more than 20 top medical experts and other staff working or on standby from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs St Mary’s.
Once the baby is born and families informed, a brief formal announcement — on foolscap-sized paper set in a dark wooden frame — is placed on an ornate golden easel on the forecourt of the palace.
It confirms the baby’s sex and the time of birth, but gives little else away, other than usually revealing that the baby has been “safely delivered” and mother and child are “doing well”.
Twitter and Instagram users last night offered speculation over gender and names.
“Awww so excited. Best wishes for a speedy safe delivery to the Duchess,” one Twitter user wrote.
Catherine and William do not know their child’s gender.
The baby Prince or Princess will be fifth in line to the throne. The new arrival will bump Prince Harry to sixth place. Catherine and William have two older children, George, 4, and Charlotte, 2.
Mary, Alice, and Victoria are among the favourite names with bookmakers if the baby is a girl, with Albert, Arthur, and Fred the favourites for a boy.
Having had homes in north Wales and Norfolk in eastern England, William and Catherine now live at Kensington Palace to allow him to dedicate more time to royal duties on behalf of his grandmother.
The royal birth comes only weeks before Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tie the knot on May 19.
Parking restrictions were put in place outside the Lindo Wing in preparation for the birth. Crowd barriers were last night set up on the street outside.
Some fans have been camping out hoping for a glimpse of the new royal baby.
The timing of the announcement, falling on St George’s Day, added to the occasion for waiting royalists.
“We are so pleased. We have been here for 15 days,” said royal watcher John Loughrey, 63.
“I’m so pleased it’s St George’s Day. St George himself would be very pleased if the baby’s born today.”
Loughrey said he plans to celebrate the birth with English flags and a portion of fish and chips.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or a girl as long as it’s a healthy baby and a healthy mother,” he said.
“It’s very good for our country and of course Her Majesty the Queen.”
Another member of his group, 82-year-old Terry Hutt, also welcomed the news.
“It’s fantastic to have another newborn baby,” said Hutt, who turns 83 at the end of the month and was hoping to share his birthday with the new royal.
The group were talking in front of their make-shift camp, which included royal memorabilia and a Union Flag tent.
— Staff reporter and agencies