Sound the trumpets: at long last, His Royal Highness is finally here! The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby boy — her first child with husband Prince William — at St. Mary’s Hospital in London on Monday, July 22, the Palace confirmed via Twitter. “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry & families have been told and are delighted. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.”
UPDATE: The official announcement has been placed on the wood and gold easel behind the gates of Buckingham Palace. The certificate bears the news of the future heir’s birth, as well as a note that reads, “Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.” Prior to the placement of the birth announcement, a royal crier shouted the news for well-wishers outside the hospital.
“May he be long-lived, happy, and glorious, and one day reign over us!” the crier proclaimed of the new Prince. “God save the Queen!”
As for the royal baby’s name? The Duke and Duchess, both 31, “may take some time” before choosing a name, a royal source recently told Us. After all, it took Princess Diana and Prince Charles seven days to name their firstborn William, two weeks for Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York to name their daughter Beatrice, three weeks for William and Kate to name their dog, Lupo, and one month for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to name Charles.
Married since April 2011, William and Kate announced they were expecting back in December of last year. Although first-time mom Middleton’s first trimester was marred by acute morning sickness, the common-born Duchess found pregnancy “fascinating,” and was feeling “great” in the final weeks before the baby’s birth.
Once Middleton and William leave the hospital, an aide promises the pair “will pose for baby pictures.”
Tell Us: What should the royals name the new Prince?
