Royal Family welcomes its newest prince
● Newborn prince arrives at 11:01am, weighing in at 8lb 7oz ● Queen and both families said to be ‘delighted’ at the news
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge introduced their newborn son to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, London, last night. He arrived at 11:01am, and weighed in at 8lb 7oz
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge showed their newborn son off to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital last night.
The proud parents introduced the baby prince of Cambridge – their third child – to the hundreds of cameras gathered in front of the private maternity unit in Paddington, London yesterday evening.
The Duchess gave birth to the 8lb 7oz baby boy at 11:01am on St George’s Day after being admitted before 6am on Monday.
During his first photocall, the baby, a younger brother to Prince George and Princess Charlotte, was wrapped in a white lace shawl with a matching hat.
Just under seven hours old, he was carried in his mother’s arms.
Smiling broadly, the Duchess, who was dressed in a vibrant red Jenny Packham dress with a white lace collar, adjusted the baby’s shawl amid windy conditions outside the hospital.
The baby could be seen moving his fingers.
Minutes after the brief photocall, the couple headed home to the sanctuary of Kensington Palace, with Prince William emerging from the hospital carrying his new son in a baby car seat, and holding his wife’s hand.
The Duke said they were “very happy” and “very delighted” and joked, holding up three fingers, that he now had “thrice the worry now”.
He added: “We didn’t keep you waiting too long this time.”
Asked whether they had decided on a name, he added: “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Prince George and Princess Charlotte earlier met the newest addition to the Cambridge family after being brought to St Mary’s Hospital by Prince William.
A confident Princess Charlotte, who turns three on 2 May, turned to wave at the photographers as she led the way up the steps holding her father’s hand, while four-yearold Prince George appeared more wary of the huge crowds of media.
The Duke and Duchess thanked the hospital for their care and the public for their warm wishes.
Kensington Palace said in a statement: “Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all staff at the hospital for the care and treatment they have received.”
The palace said the baby’s name would be “announced in due course”, but Arthur is already the favourite with punters, according to the bookies.
Other predictions include Philip, after the Duke of Edinburgh, as well as James, Frederick and Albert.
The new prince is fifth in line to the throne, and is the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s sixth great-grandchild.
With their third child being a son, the Duke and Duchess are following in the footsteps of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, with both having a son, a daughter and then another son.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had Prince Charles, then Princess Anne, followed by, after a gap of ten years, Prince Andrew. Their fourth child, Prince Edward, born four years later. Kensington Palace announced the baby’s arrival in a statement shortly after 1pm and said that the Queen, the Royal Family and the Duchess’s family were all thrilled at the news.
The statement said: “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.”
A formal notice of the birth was placed in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace on an ornate golden stand, and a celebratory over-sized Union Flag was raised from the roof of the Queen’s London home.
Prime Minister Theresa May offered her congratulations.
Arthur, Albert and Philip are all thought to be in the running for the new royal baby’s name.
As is tradition, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have not immediately announced the chosen name of their third child and second son.
They are likely to wait until they have informed the Queen and the rest of their family.
Historian Judith Rowbotham predicted that the couple would pick Philip for the new baby prince, in tribute to the
Arthur, Albert and Philip are all names in the frame for newest royal boy
Laura Elston
Duke of Edinburgh. She said: “I strongly suspect that Philip will be either a first or a second name,.
“It’s plain that they like the Germanic sounding names but at the same time they’re looking within the Windsor traditions.”
Arthur has been the bookmakers’ favourite for a boy, followed by Albert.
Here are some of the contenders:
Arthur: One of Charles’s middle names, Arthur is also one of William’s middle names and was a middle name of the Queen’s father, George VI.
The legendary King Arthur was the mythical leader of the knights of the Round Table, who supposedly lived in the 5th or 6th century.
Once popular, the name fell out of fashion but has had a revival in recent years. Former prime minister David Cameron has a son called Arthur.
Albert: Queen Victoria used to insist that the name Albert was used as a middle name by her descendants, if not a first, in honour of her muchloved consort Prince Albert.
By choosing Albert or Bertie for a boy, William and Kate would be honouring Queen Elizabeth II’S father, George VI, who was Albert Frederick Arthur George, known to his family as Bertie.
Shy, stammering Bertie became king when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated to marry Wallis Simpson, but won the nation’s affection by staying in London despite the bombings during the Second World War.
Philip: A lasting tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh might see a Prince of Cambridge called Philip. Both Charles and William have Philip as a middle name.