Royal baby latest: Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to boy

'The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,' say palace officials

The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a boy.

Kate Middleton was admitted to hospital in London after going into labour with her third child early on Monday morning.

The palace has now revealed she has given birth to a healthy son weighing 8lbs 7oz.

“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs," palace officials said in a statement.

“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.”

Middleton was admitted to hospital before 6am but the palace has yet to say how long the 36-year-old was in labour.

"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," Kensington Palace tweeted earlier in the day.

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

The self-proclaimed Royalist Town Crier walked up the steps of the Lindo Wing where he called out “God Save the Queen” and announced the baby prince's birth.

Diehard royal fans have been camped out the hospital for weeks as they awaited the birth with bated breath.

Camera crews and journalists have also gathered to wait and the road outside the hospital has also been cordoned off since last week in anticipation.

epa06686892 Royal well-wishers gather outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's hospital in London, Britain, 23 April 2018. Kensington Palace has announced that the Duchess of Cambridge is in the early stages of labour and is expected to give birth to her third child at the Lindo Wing in London. EPA/ANDY RAIN (EPA)

It is likely the couple will pose for photos with their newborn son outside the Lindo Wing when they leave hospital - just as they did with their two previous children.

It is the same hospital where Prince George was born in 2013, and his younger sister, Princess Charlotte in 2015. It is also the birthplace of their father Prince William and uncle Prince Harry.

Prime Minister Theresa May has congratulated the couple on the news.

"My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them great happiness for the future," she tweeted.

The duchess went on maternity leave on 22 March, and parking restrictions notices and barriers were put in place in front of the Lindo Wing on 9 April.

The baby prince is fifth in line to the throne, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh’s sixth great-grandchild, and his title will be HRH Prince.

Now the baby has arrived, Prince Harry will shift down the line of succession to sixth place.

The newly-born baby will be behind his sister Prince Charlotte in the line of succession despite the fact he is a boy. This due to a change in the primogeniture laws.

The palace have said the name of the boy will be announced in due course.