Just seven hours after giving birth to her third child, Kate Middleton appeared (in heels!) on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital on Monday evening with Prince William by her side to introduce their new baby boy to the world.
The royal baby was wrapped in a white shawl (from royal favorite brand GH Hurt and Son Ltd) in his mother’s arms as he was presented to the enthusiastic crowds of well-wishers who gathered outside the hospital, anxiously awaiting a peek at the newborn prince.
Kate looked stunning in a red dress with a white collar (almost identical to the dress Princess Diana wore after giving birth to Prince Harry) by Jenny Packham (shop similar looks here and here) after a visit from her go-to stylist, Natasha Archer, who was spotted leaving the Lindo Wing an hour before the royal gave birth. She paired the look with nude suede heels.
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And just like after her first two post-baby debuts, Kate’s signature blowout was styled to perfection.
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The royal mom opted for dresses by Jenny Packham for her first two births as well. She wore a yellow floral silk shift dress after Princess Charlotte’s birth and a blue polka-dot dress after welcoming Prince George.
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Kate was admitted to the hospital before 6 a.m. on Monday 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 labor,” the statement reads.
“The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.”
The new royal baby Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
The new royal baby Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
The new royal baby will be the fifth in line of succession after Prince Charles, William, George and Charlotte. Prince Harry — currently fifth in line to the throne — will be bumped to sixth in line.
Will and Kate presented all three of their children on the very same steps.
Proud dad William said the couple was “very happy, delighted” as he expertly fit the baby carrier into the car before the couple made their way back to their home at Kensington Palace.
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Holding up three fingers, he said, “thrice worry now,” adding, “We didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
When asked about the name the said, “You’ll find out soon enough.”
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Earlier in the day, he brought George and Charlotte to the hospital to meet their new baby brother. Charlotte charmed the crowds with her expert royal wave!
The new royal baby is fifth in line of succession after Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
If you had a sense of royal deja vu when Kate Middleton and Prince William stepped out at the Lindo Wing today, there’s a reason.
Kate channeled her late mother-in-law while debuting her second son to the world in a red dress with a white Peter Pan collar. Nearly 34 years ago, when Princess Diana presented Prince Harry to the public, she also wore a red outfit featuring a white Peter Pan collar.
Kate’s dress, a red number from Jenny Packham (who designed all three of her post-birth ensembles!) is undoubtedly a tribute to the new baby’s maternal grandmother, who, of course, died in a car accident in 1997.
Prince William and Kate Middleton Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock
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When she gave birth to Prince George in 2013, Kate wore another outfit inspired by Diana: A blue polka-dot Jenny Packham dress, invoking the same print that Diana herself wore to present William to the world in 1982.
Princess Diana leaving the hospital with Prince Harry in 1984. JOHN SHELLEY./REX/Shutterstock
William and Kate posed for photographs with their new, as-of-now unnamed son for a few minutes before returning inside the hospital to grab his car seat. They then exited again to enter their car and drive home. Kate sat in the back with the baby while William drove the family home, where big brother and big sister George and Princess Charlotte were waiting.
PRINCE William and Kate introduced the new Prince of Cambridge to the world - as Wills joked having three kids was “Thrice worry now!”
The 8lb 7oz Prince arrived with the perfect patriotic credentials — born on St George’s Day and Shakespeare’s birthday.
Rex Features Beaming Prince William and Kate show off their baby boy to the world
PA:Press Association The royal baby, Kate and William's third child, was born weighing 8lbs 7oz at 11:01am today
He greeted the world cradled in the arms of his mum, proudly wearing the red and white of England’s patron saint. The royal baby shares his birthday with the bard, who immortalised his ancestor.
After briefly stepping back inside the Lindo Wing to fetch a carrier for their adorable tot, Wills and Kate reappeared to a waiting royal car.
As Prince William carefully placed his son inside and helped Kate into the motor he gestured to the cameras with three fingers up.
He joked: "We are very happy, very delighted — thrice the worry now! We didn't keep you waiting too long this time."
Follow our LIVE BLOG for all the updates on the arrival of Kate and Wills' third tot
Rex Features The Royal couple stepped out of the Lindo Wing this evening after the birth of their third child
Rex Features The fifth-in-line to the throne was carried out by his proud parents this evening
PA:Press Association Wills and doting Kate posed for pictures on the steps of the Lindo Wing
Rex Features The adorable tot was shown off to the country and the world
He also revealed big brother George, four, and sister Charlotte, two, were “very happy . . . delighted” with their new baby brother.
With both her elder children Kate was late — a week past her due date with Charlotte and ten days with George. Despite the five-and-a-half hours of labour — longer than Charlotte’s two-and-a-half hours — Kate looked amazing on the steps of the Lindo Wing seven hours later.
Wearing a red bespoke Jenny Packham dress, Gianvito Rossi nude heels and earrings loaned by the Queen, she smiled warmly as she carried her new son.
He was wrapped up against the chilly wind, in a new bonnet and a £70 Nottingham lace shawl gifted from GH Hurt & Son, who also provided George and Charlotte’s shawls.
Reuters William and Kate share a loving glance as the country meets their third child
AFP or licensors Kate gave birth to the health baby boy at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital today
Getty - Contributor Prince William points to the cameras and the crowds as he and wife Kate's new boy is introduced to the world
AP:Associated Press Wills and Kate wave and point to well-wishers
Getty Images - Getty Beaming Wills and Kate Middleton smile after the birth of their boy today
PA:Press Association Prince William and Kate look down at their healthy tot on the steps of the hospital
Getty Images - Getty Wills appears to gesture three fingers - possibly a reference to his third child - as he gets into a car
Asked about the potential name of their son, Wills replied: "You will find out sooner or later." Bookies have made Albert, Arthur, Jack and Fred the favoured names.
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to the healthy baby boy weighing 8lbs 7oz at 11:01am on patriotic St George's Day this morning.
She later wore a vibrant red dress - seen as a nod to Princess Diana - and smiled at hundreds of well-wishers and assembled journalists as she cradled her newborn alongside husband William.
The royal family are said to be delighted with the news of the birth, with the Queen having been informed of the arrival of the fifth-in-line to the throne earlier.
Delighted dad Prince William arrived at the maternity wing with excited Prince George and Princess Charlotte to meet their new brother this afternoon.
Little Charlotte, two, appeared to be particularly excited and waved at the waiting press as she and her big brother Prince George, four, walked hand-in-hand with their dad.
Paul Edwards - The Sun Prince William and Kate wave to crowds of well-wishers after introducing their baby boy to the country
Rex Features Throngs of photographers and reporters line up outside the hospital to take the precious first photos of the royal baby
Reuters The baby boy was born weighing a healthy 8lbs 7oz
AFP and licsensors The rosy-cheeked tot was carried out by proud Wills and Kate today
Getty Images - Getty Kate, William and their newborn boy left the Lindo Wing this evening
Andrew Parsons Prince William gestured with three fingers as he joked he now had 'thrice the worry'
Splash News Prince William places his new baby boy in the back of a waiting car to head back to Kensington Palace
Getty - Contributor Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing
Dan Charity - The Sun The royal car enters the grounds of Kensington Palace carrying Prince William, Kate and their baby boy
William tells Kate 'There's Arthur!' as couple spot Sun's royal photographer whilst showing off new baby boy Prince to the world
In a statement, Kensington Palace said: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.
"The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.
"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well."
They added: "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 Queen today celebrated the birth of her latest great-grandchild with a horse back ride at Windsor Castle.
Rex Features Earlier, Prince William smiles as he takes his children in to meet their new baby brother
PA:Press Association The adorable pair have a new brother
PA:Press Association Little George wearing his school uniform and Princess Charlotte walked to the hospital with dad William
AFP and licsensors Princess Charlotte caught everyone's hearts with her cute wave
AFP and licsensors Princess Charlotte gives an adorable wave as she follows her dad and big brother into the hospital
PA:Press Association Kate Middleton has given birth to her third child, a boy
PA:Press Association The official notice of the baby's birth being set up at Buckingham Palace
PA:Press Association The formal notice was placed outside Buckingham Palace
Official formal announcement of Duke and Duchess' third child via traditional ornate golden easel at Buckingham Palace
Getty - Contributor The town crier shared the exciting news outside the hospital
Kay Burley asks a group of Japanese people if they've come far to see the royal baby for them to reply that they're from Devon
It's the first time in history that a boy will not precede his older sister in the line of succession, with Princess Charlotte remaining fourth, behind brother George but in front of her new male sibling.
Royal watchers will now wait with bated breath for the first official portrait of the new family-of-five.
Excitement had today reached fever pitch when Kate's stylist was seen leaving the Lindo Wing - a sign she was preparing to leave.
Many royal fans have been camped outside the hospital for weeks, eager to catch a sight of the little boy - Kate and William's second son.
Messages of congratulations to the young family have already started to flow in - with Prime Minister Theresa May tweeting: "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."
Present at the new baby’s birth were the Queen’s surgeons Guy Thorpe-Beeston and Alan Farthing, Dr Sunit Godambe, consultant neonatologist at Imperial College and the Queen’s physician Professor Huw Thomas.
The Sun's legendary royal photographer Arthur Edwards expresses his joy as Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to third child
� Kelvin Bruce The Queen, pictured today, celebrates the birth of her latest great-grandchild with a ride at Windsor Castle
London News Pictures Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrive at a service to mark 25 years since Stephen Lawrence was killed
PA:Press Association Royal fans John Loughrey, left, and Terry Hutt, right, wait excitedly outside the hospital this morning
Reuters Excited royal fans celebrated this afternoon
The third baby will become fifth-in-line to the throne
The town-crier also declared the happy news, wearing the traditional outfit as he shared the announcement outside the Lindo wing.
A large Union flag was also raised over Buckingham Palace, while a State Standard was raised over Windsor Castle to celebrate the birth of the baby boy.
Other messages of support even came from the Royal Navy, proudly spelling out BOY! on board the HMS Albion.
Celebrities have also been posting messages of congratulations.
Liam Payne wrote on Twitter: "Congratulations to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge Kate and the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William on the birth of their baby boy! #RoyalBaby".
Speaker John Bercow told the Commons: "I am sure the whole House would want to join me in sending Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, our warmest congratulations on the birth of their son."
Congratulations to her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge Kate and the Duke of Cambridge, Prince William on the birth of their baby boy! #RoyalBaby 👶🏻 — Liam (@LiamPayne) April 23, 2018
Warmest congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their third child. The Abbey's bell ringers will ring a full peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal, starting at 1pm tomorrow, in celebration #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/9diiLgHL0X — Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) April 23, 2018
Unofficial town crier announces Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy at St Mary's Hospital
Reuters Members of the crew of HMS Albion form the word "Boy!" on the flight deck to celebrate the birth
"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." - PM @theresa_may — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) April 23, 2018
Loose Women panel get excited as they announce the birth of a new Prince for Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge
AFP and licsensors Royal fans celebrate the news of the baby boy's arrival
PA:Press Association Customers and staff outside the Duchess of Cambridge pub in Windsor celebrate the news that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a son
KATE Middleton gave birth to her third child on April 23, 2018.
But these are the unusual royal birthing rules that the Duchess of Cambridge had to follow in order to adhere to tradition. Here's the lowdown...
Getty - Contributor Kate Middleton has given birth to her third child - a baby boy
The royal family has a set of customs they follow when any baby is born – including who the first person to be told the news is.
Other practices dictate who is allowed in the birthing room and how the birth is announced to the British public.
1. The Queen has to be the first to know
The Queen must be told a child has been born into the royal family before the news is announced publicly.
It's reported that Prince William rang his grandmother on an encrypted phone when Prince George was born.
Traditionally, the announcement has always been on an easel outside Buckingham Palace.
Kate and William broke this protocol and announced it on Twitter with Prince George.
Splash The Queen has to be the first person to know when a baby is born into the royal family
2. The town crier announces the news to the public
Town crier Tony Appleton announced the births of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
This custom harks back to medieval times when people couldn’t read or write.
3. Home births are preferred
As is tradition, the Queen gave birth to all of her children in Buckingham Palace.
Princess Diana broke this rule and gave birth to sons Prince Harry and Prince William at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital in the private Lindo Wing.
Kate also had her three children at this hospital.
PA The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed a baby boy 0n April 23,2018
4. Dads are banned from the birthing room
Giving birth is considered a female-only event and fathers are not allowed in the delivery room.
This rule is believed to have been relaxed after the birth of Prince Charles.
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5. Midwives are sworn to secrecy
Midwives are not allowed to disclose any information about the birth.
It’s thought Kate Middleton had three midwives with her during the birth of Princess Charlotte.
Here's your guide to the best maternity outfits the Duchess has worn.
