Top News Online
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Prince WiIliam and Kate William are now parents to a baby boy.
It’s a boy!
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have welcomed a baby boy who is now third in line to the throne, Buckingham Palace confirmed.
LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the media shelter under umbrellas from the sun as they wait outside St Mary’s hospital.
The royal baby, weighing in at 8 pounds, 16 ounces, arrived at 4:24 p.m. Monday.
Middleton, 31, was ushered into London’s St. Mary’s Hospital just before 6 a.m., using a rear entrance to sneak past the hundreds of royal watchers camped around the building.
PHOTOS: ROYAL BABY WATCH TAKES OVER LONDON
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth returns in a car to Buckingham Palace in London on Monday.
It’s the same hospital where Princess Diana gave birth to William in 1982 and his brother Harry two years later.
The royal baby was welcomed into the world in style — in a $ 1,500 private room at the hospital’s Lido Wing that had been set aside for the entire month for the Duchess’ personal use.
JEFF MOORE/PA Photos /Landov
Members of the public pictured outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the arrival of the royal baby.
Following news of the baby’s arrival, eager fans rushed to the gates of Buckingham Palace.
PHOTOS: KATE MIDDLETON’S ROYAL MATERNITY STYLE
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Kate Middleton and Prince William stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour Ceremony on June 15.
Until the delivery, William and Kate reportedly didn’t know the gender of the child, and most other details around the pregnancy were shrouded in secrecy.
Buckingham Palace even issued a private cellphone with an encrypted signal to call Middleton’s personal doctor, Marcus Setchell, once contractions set in, US Weekly reported.
James Whatling / Splash News/James Whatling / Splash News
The Duchess of Cambridge went into labor early Monday morning.
Though the due date was never disclosed, many estimated that it was on or around July 13, so Middleton was overdue.
PHOTOS: KATE MIDDLETON’S ROYAL MATERNITY STYLE
And as the days dragged on and excitement grew, NBC “Today” show reporter Natalie Morales was photographed knitting baby booties to kill time in the media bullpen set up outside the hospital.
Even Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles seemed impatient for their royal grandchild to be born.
“I would very much like it to arrive,” the queen said Wednesday during a visit with children. “I’m going on holiday.”
Charles also poked fun while in York Monday: “I’m very grateful indeed for the kind wishes for my rather slowly-approaching grandfatherhood.”
esacks@nydailynews.com
