Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to baby boy

Britain has a future king after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to a healthy baby boy at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s hospital in Paddington at 16.24 pm BST, yesterday.

The news was formally announced to the public at 20.30 pm after Kensington Palace released a statement that read: “Her royal highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24 pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.”

Following the tradition, the news has been displayed on an ornate style easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace – the same used to announce Prince William’s birth in 1982.

It has been reported that both her royal highness and her child are doing well and have remained in the hospital overnight.

The Duke of Cambridge, who was by her side throughout, said “he could not be happier.” He personally phoned the Queen to give her the news and later called the Prince of Wales, Prince Harry and the Middleton family who were excited with the news.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news.”

The Prince of Wales in a separate statement said he is “overjoyed at the arrival of my first grand child.”

He added on behalf of the Duchess of Cornwall as well: “It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.”

Shortly after the delivery, Marcus Setwell, the royal doctor who led the medical team which delivered the future king, described the baby as a “wonderful baby, beautiful baby.”

Prime minister David Cameron said in a statement outside of Downing Street: “It is an important moment in the life of our nation but I suppose, above all, it’s a wonderful moment for a warm and loving couple who’ve got a brand new baby boy.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the arrival of their baby boy, saying: “May God bless this family with love, health and happiness in their shared life ahead.”

The US president Barack Obama has also sent his greetings to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. In his statement he congratulated the couple and said: “We wish them all the happiness and blessing parenthood brings. The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations.”

The royal baby is the first Prince of Cambridge to be born for more than 190 years since Prince George of Cambridge. He is also the 3^rd in line to the throne and the British monarchy now has three generations of heirs to the throne for the first time since 1894.

Aastha Gill