Clarence House has confirmed that Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, has gone into labor with her first child with Prince William.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labour.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London 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.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.
The couple are believed not to know the gender of their baby and have planned a natural birth. The palace will not confirm whether or not Kate was induced, but given that she arrived by car "in the early stages of labor," it seems unlikely. The Duchess will have her baby in the same wing of the private London hospital where her husband was born 31 years ago.
The royal baby will be third in line to the throne and be called "His/Her Royal Highness, Prince or Princess [Name] of Cambridge." As soon as the baby is born, Prince William will begin two weeks of paternity leave from the Royal Air Force.
The next public announcement will be made in the form of a formal bulletin signed by medical staff and driven from the hospital to Buckingham Palace, where it will be displayed on an easel in front of the palace. The bulletin will reveal the baby's sex, weight, and time of birth, but it may take William and Kate longer to decide on a name — Prince William's name was announced six days after his birth and it took the world nearly a month to learn Prince Charles' name.
The news broke after a photographer spotted the security convoy pulling up to one of the hospital's private entrances.
Kate Middleton has gone into hospital... #royal #worldexclusive @IkonPictures #LindoWing #RoyalBaby #RoyalBabyWatch
Jesal Parshotam
@therealjesal
Kate Middleton has gone into hospital... #royal #worldexclusive @IkonPictures #LindoWing #RoyalBaby #RoyalBabyWatch
@saralander me and @Babylon902 saw it with our own eyes..
Jesal Parshotam
@therealjesal
@saralander me and @Babylon902 saw it with our own eyes..
@royaltydaily we saw the convoy and the security. She is in. Hopefully everything is smooth, and the pregnancy goes well #RoyalBaby
Jesal Parshotam
@therealjesal
@royaltydaily we saw the convoy and the security. She is in. Hopefully everything is smooth, and the pregnancy goes well #RoyalBaby
The impending birth is welcome news to the members of the media who have been camped outside the hospital since July 1.
Update: 3:35 a.m. ET: A spokesman for the Duchess says that Kate's labor is "progressing naturally."
The palace has previously indicated that they will be making no further statements on the progress of the birth until the child is born.
Security has increased outside St. Mary's private Lindo Wing.
UPDATE. Scene at St Mary's hospital has changed. Now TWO policemen outside the door
Duncan Hooper
@DuncanHooperMSN
UPDATE. Scene at St Mary's hospital has changed. Now TWO policemen outside the door
St Mary's released a brief statement regarding the news:
The hospital is delighted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen to have their baby at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's.
Everyone at the trust is exceptionally proud that this historic moment is happening here.
The media presence outside the hospital has increased since the announcement.
Many royal fans have arrived on the scene as well, and barricades have been put in place to keep the road clear.
Update - 6:20 a.m. ET: UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Archbishop of Canterbury have sent their well wishes to the expecting couple.
The Prime Minister told ITV that the news that the Duchess of Cambridge had gone into labor was "very exciting" for the entire country. "Best wishes to them," Cameron said. "A very exciting occasion and the whole country is excited with them. So, everyone's hoping for the best."
My thoughts and prayers are with Kate and the whole family on this enormously special day
Justin Welby
@ABCJustin
My thoughts and prayers are with Kate and the whole family on this enormously special day
Update - 6:45 a.m. ET: A live stream has been set up outside the hospital doors.
Prince Charles gave a short comment to reporters while at an event in Yorkshire:
Asked whether he knew about the birth, Prince Charles replies "Absolutely nothing. We're waiting". #RoyalBaby
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
Asked whether he knew about the birth, Prince Charles replies "Absolutely nothing. We're waiting". #RoyalBaby
Update - 7:45 a.m. ET: Crowds are beginning to gather outside Buckingham Palace.
Crowds gather on the steps of the Queen Victoria Memorial Statue outside Buckingham Palace today #RoyalBaby
HuffPostUK Pic Desk
@HuffPostUKPics
Crowds gather on the steps of the Queen Victoria Memorial Statue outside Buckingham Palace today #RoyalBaby
Update - 9:10 a.m. ET: A spokesman for the royal couple has confirmed that the Duchess of Cambridge's labor is "progressing as normal."
Update - 10:45 a.m. ET: The Queen has returned to Buckingham Palace to await the birth of her third great-grandchild.
Update - 11:35 a.m. ET: Prince Charles thanked well-wishers and quipped about the duration of his daughter-in-law's labor.
Prince Charles tells well-wishers: "I'm very grateful indeed for the kind wishes for my rather slowly-approaching grandfatherhood."
Richard Palmer
@RoyalReporter
Prince Charles tells well-wishers: "I'm very grateful indeed for the kind wishes for my rather slowly-approaching grandfatherhood."
Update - 1:00 p.m. ET: The BBC's Peter Hunt explains how the world will learn of the royal baby's birth.
We'll know a baby has been born when one of Kate's officials emerges from the Lindo Wing with a medical bulletin in their hands #RoyalBaby
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
We'll know a baby has been born when one of Kate's officials emerges from the Lindo Wing with a medical bulletin in their hands #RoyalBaby
The medical bulletin will be carried from the Lindo Wing to Buck Palace by Ed Perkins -- William and Kate's Press Secretary. #RoyalBaby
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
The medical bulletin will be carried from the Lindo Wing to Buck Palace by Ed Perkins -- William and Kate's Press Secretary. #RoyalBaby
Update - 1:25 p.m.: In York today, a little boy gave Prince Charles a gift, "for the baby." The prince thanked him and said, "I'll see what I can do, it hasn't quite appeared yet."
View this video on YouTube
Update - 3:05 p.m. ET: The baby's birth announcement will break from tradition and come via press release instead of a posted notice at Buckingham Palace.
Ken Palace have changed their plans. The first we will know about the baby will be when they release a formal press release. #RoyalBaby
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
Ken Palace have changed their plans. The first we will know about the baby will be when they release a formal press release. #RoyalBaby
Then, if its in daylight hours, there will be the "theatre" of tge bulletin being placed on an easel at Buck Pal. #RoyalBaby
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
Then, if its in daylight hours, there will be the "theatre" of tge bulletin being placed on an easel at Buck Pal. #RoyalBaby
William and Kate's officials say they've made this change so the birth announcement can be made as "quickly and simply as possible".
Peter Hunt
@BBCPeterHunt
William and Kate's officials say they've made this change so the birth announcement can be made as "quickly and simply as possible".
Update - 3:30 p.m. ET: Reporters outside the hospital believe the birth announcement is coming soon.
We believe a birth announcement is imminent.
Richard Palmer
@RoyalReporter
We believe a birth announcement is imminent.
photog chatter says an announcement being made in 5. caveat: photog chatter usually bawdy & unreliable
alex rees
@maybealexislost
photog chatter says an announcement being made in 5. caveat: photog chatter usually bawdy & unreliable
Update 3:30 p.m. ET: Clarence House confirms Kate gave birth to a baby boy.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm
The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
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.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
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.
Clarence House
@ClarenceHouse
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.