Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge emerge from St Mary's in London with their newborn prince.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left hospital after the arrival of their third child, a boy.

The couple's second son, who was born at 11:01 BST, weighing 8lb 7oz, is fifth in line to the throne.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte had visited their brother at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London.

Leaving the hospital Prince William said the couple were very happy, before holding up three fingers and joking he had "thrice the worry now".

"We didn't keep you waiting too long this time," he added.

When someone asked him whether the couple had decided on a name, he said: "You'll find out soon enough."

Formal notice

Minutes earlier, Prince William and Catherine had come out of the hospital briefly to greet the crowds with their new son.

They then returned inside to put their newborn son in his car seat before driving away towards their home Kensington Palace.

Image copyright PA Image caption The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's newborn son is fifth in line to the throne

The duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress with a white collar as she left the hospital.

Fashion commentators said that its colours reflected St George's flag, while others saw echoes of Princess Diana, who wore red and white when she left hospital with a newborn Prince Harry in 1984.

Members of both families have said they are "delighted with the news" of the birth.

Skip Twitter post by @KensingtonRoyal 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. — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018 Report

Kensington Palace said the name of the baby would be announced in due course while a formal notice of the birth had been posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

Favourite names at the bookmakers include Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption George and Charlotte visit royal baby

Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted her "warmest congratulations" to William and Catherine.

She said: "I wish them great happiness for the future."

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also sent his regards, tweeting: "Congratulations to Kate and William on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them all the very best."

The Archbishop of Canterbury added: "Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the safe delivery of their baby, a brother for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

"May God bless them and all of their children with love, happiness and health."

A sense of renewal

By Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondent

After some quieter times, the Royal Family is back in the news - and there is a noticeable sense of renewal; new faces, with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancee, making her first public appearances, and now another child, the as-yet unnamed third child of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

It's always gone like this - waves of interest followed by periods of relative quiet. But there has been a sense of renewal in the past few months.

Of course there has been concern over the health of the Duke of Edinburgh; and interest in the Queen, with her decades of service, never falters.

But the attention of a new group, both in Britain and around the world, has been caught by this birth and then the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle next month.

From the darkest days of the World War Two to the Instagram generation, the Royal Family now connects them all.

Following a change in the law in 2013, Princess Charlotte keeps her place as fourth in line to the throne.

Previously, younger royal males would have taken precedence over older female siblings.

The duchess was admitted to hospital shortly before 06:00 on Monday with the announcement of the birth coming shortly after 13:00.

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption BBC Rewind looks back at previous notable royal pregnancy announcements

Senior royal doctors consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing oversaw the birth.

Both were also called in for the arrival of Prince George in 2013 and Princess Charlotte in 2015.

The new prince, born on St George's Day, shares a birthday with Lady Gabriella Windsor - the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who was born at the Lindo Wing on 23 April 1981.

Image copyright PA Image caption Some royal fans have been waiting outside the hospital since early April

Will the new prince be king?

To become King or Queen as the third-born royal child is rare - and has yet to happen within the current House of Windsor.

But the third child of George III and Queen Charlotte, William IV, took on the task and ruled from 1830 to 1837.

The Hanoverian king acceded to the throne aged 64 when his older brother, George IV, died without an heir.

He became next in line when he was 62 and his other older brother, Frederick, Duke of York, died.</s>Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, gave birth to a baby boy on Monday, Kensington Palace announced.

William was present at the birth, said the palace, adding that both the baby and Kate were doing well.</s>The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a son weighing 8lbs 7oz, Kensington Palace has announced.

Kate was taken to the private Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, on Monday morning.

The baby prince will be fifth in line to the throne, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great-grandchild and a younger brother or sister for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.</s>LONDON – Kensington Palace says the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to her third child, a boy weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces (3.8 kilograms).

The palace says the child was born at 11:01 a.m., a few hours after Kate was admitted to London’s St. Mary’s Hospital in labour.

Prince William was present for the birth of his son, who is fifth in line to the throne.

The palace says “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.”</s>Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton has given birth to a boy today. The Kensington Palace twitter handle broke the news to the world as they celebrated the arrival of the third royal baby who joins the line to the throne after his brother and sister. The princess is healthy and keeping well after she was admitted to St. Mary’s hospital today morning when she went into early stages of labor. Kensington Palace announced Kate’s pregnancy in September. During her pregnancy, Kate maintained a busy pace of royal engagements, including a trip with William to Norway and Sweden and the launch of a mental health program in schools.

The baby is set to be born in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital, the same London hospital where Kate gave birth to George and Charlotte. The newborn will be fifth in line to the British throne after the child’s grandfather, Prince Charles, father, William, brother, George and sister, Charlotte. The reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, ascended to the throne in 1952. The baby is the Queen’s sixth great-grandchild.

Early in her pregnancy, Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness, as she did with her first two pregnancies. Kate gave birth to Prince George (4) in July 2013 and Princess Charlotte in May 2015 (2) after getting married to Prince William in 2011. She is expected to now take time off from official royal duties, as she did after the births of her older children.

After the birth of the third royal baby, the palace will know work in full swing for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle which will take place on May 19, 2018. Kate Middleton will attend the wedding but will no public appearance post that for some time. She was last seen attending Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday celebration last week along with the rest of the royal family. The name of the child is yet to be announced.</s>Duchess Catherine has given birth to a baby boy.

The 36-year-old royal and her husband Prince William - who already have son Prince George, four, and two-year-old daughter Princess Charlotte - welcomed their third child into the world at 11.01am on Monday (04.23.18).

Kensington Palace announced: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.

"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."

Both William and Catherine's families are "delighted" with the new addition to the household.

The statement concluded: "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."

It was revealed earlier in the day that Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage - had been admitted to hospital after going into labor.

Kensington Palace announced: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labor.</s>The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to her third child.

Kate, 36, delivered the baby boy at the exclusive Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, on St George's Day.

As the royal baby arrived into the world, crowds of well-wishers waited outside the maternity unit, holding banners and Union Jack flags.

The child, who is a younger sibling to Kate's two older children, George, four, and two-year-old Charlotte, is now fifth in line to the throne.

It is the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great-grandchild.

Kensington Palace said in a statement: "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 and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."

The 'Great Kate Wait' had officially begun this morning, after Kensington Palace announced the Duchess had been admitted to hospital in labour.

The birth of her third child - which comes as the country celebrates patriotic St George's Day - was confirmed by Kensington Palace via Twitter.

It was also due to be marked with a traditional bulletin on show at Buckingham Palace, as well as a 41-gun salute in Green Park or Hyde Park.

A 62-gun salute at the Tower of London is also set to take place.

Although the wait for the baby's birth may be over, the public could be left guessing as to the youngster's name for several days.

The names given to royal babies are not usually revealed straight away.

Indeed, Kate and husband William, 35, took two days to announce both George and Charlotte's names, informing the Queen of their choice beforehand.

The couple had travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing earlier today, with the Duchess in the "early stages of labour".

Kensington Palace said in a statement this morning: "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 Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge."

Kate has been in the care of consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston, who is the surgeon-gynaecologist to the household, and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist - part of the trusted team who delivered George and Charlotte.

Highly-trained midwives were also on hand as she gave birth, while experts were likely waiting in the wings in case of an emergency.

For her previous births, the Duchess had a 23-strong team of top medics working or on stand-by from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - which runs St Mary's Hospital.

Theatre staff were ready, along with a lab technician, replacement anaesthetists and paediatricians, a back-up for the consultant, and workers from a special baby care unit.

With George, she gave birth 10-and-a-half hours after being admitted to hospital. Meanwhile, Charlotte was delivered just two hours and 34 minutes after her mum arrived at the Lindo Wing.

Just like with her older children, Kate had been hoping for a natural birth and didn't know whether she was having a boy or a girl.

Overjoyed fans are now waiting for her to emerge from hospital with her latest bundle of joy, hoping to catch a glimpse of the royal child.

Some have been camped outside the maternity unit for more than two weeks.

John Loughrey, 63, who is part of a group waiting outside St Mary's Hospital, said earlier: "We are so pleased. We have been here for 15 days.

The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.

Supporters have been gathering after it was announced Kate had been admitted to hospital.

"St George himself would be very pleased if the baby's born today."

Mr Loughrey, from Streatham, south London, said he planned 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 expressed his delight after it was announced Kate had been admitted to hospital.

"It's fantastic to have another newborn baby," said Mr Hutt, who turns 83 at the end of the month and was hoping to share his birthday with the new royal.</s>The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a son weighing 8lbs 7oz, Kensington Palace has announced.

This morning the palace said she was in the ‘early stages of labour’.

It was announced in September that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expecting their third child.</s>(CNN) — Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Britain’s Prince William, has given birth to a son, the royal family announced Monday.

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth of the couple’s third child, at 11 a.m. local time at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London.

The newest arrival to the royal family weighs 8lbs 7oz (3.8 kilograms), and both mother and baby are “doing well,” according to the Palace.

“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,” Kensington Palace said in a statement on Twitter.

A golden easel bearing a framed notice announcing the birth was placed on display in front of Buckingham Palace on Monday afternoon. The bulletin will be on display for approximately 24 hours.

The practice of posting a bulletin on the occasion of a royal birth goes back to at least 1837, when Buckingham Palace became the Brtish monarch’s official residence.

The royal baby is fifth in line to the British throne, after grandDucfather Prince Charles, father Prince William and two siblings.

The newest addition to the royal family is a younger brother to Prince George, 4, and Princess Charlotte, 2, and the Queen Elizabeth II’s sixth great-grandchild.

Prince George was born at the Lindo Wing in 2013, and Princess Charlotte in 2015. Their father William was also born at the same facility.

The duchess’ pregnancy was announced in September. At the time, she was said to be suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, which involves nausea and vomiting more severe than the typical morning sickness many women suffer during early pregnancy. The duchess was affected by the same condition during her two previous pregnancies.

As her symptoms eased she returned to public engagements, making appearances alongside William, Harry and his fiancee, Meghan Markle.

The birth comes just weeks before the wedding of Harry and Markle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor on May 19.

William and Kate will mark their own seventh wedding anniversary on April 29.

The news of a royal birth is traditionally announced on a gilded easel placed outside Buckingham Palace. Large crowds gathered outside in July 2013 to see the announcement of the arrival of William and Kate’s first child.

The couple announced his name, George Alexander Louis, and that of their daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, a couple of days after each was born.

Among bookmakers’ favored names for the couple’s third child are Arthur, Albert and Frederick.</s>British royals Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have introduced their new baby boy to the world just hours after his birth.

The tot, whose name has yet to be announced, was born at St. Mary's Hospital in London on Monday (23Apr18), arriving at 11.01am local time.

Not long after the news made headlines, the proud parents staged a photo opportunity with their little prince on the steps of the medical facility's Lindo Wing as the couple prepared to head home.

Catherine was pictured wearing a red shift dress with a white lace collar as she held the newborn, who was clad in a white gown and matching cap, while Prince William wore a shirt, dark pants, and blue suit jacket for their first public appearance together.

The Duchess went into labour in the early hours of Monday, and the child's arrival was announced in a statement from officials at Kensington Palace.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs," the release read. "The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.

"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."

The baby boy, who is fifth-in-line to the throne, joins big brother Prince George, four, and sister Princess Charlotte, two.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to her and the Duke's third child and second boy; the child is fifth in line to the British throne.