PRINCESS KATE sparked worldwide celebrations last night after giving birth to an 8lb 6oz baby boy.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are celebrating their new arrival

Proud Prince William immediately called the Queen, his father Prince Charles, and his brother Harry and made sure Kate’s family was told the happy news.

After more than a week of waiting, Kate was admitted to the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s, Paddington, west London, at 5.30am, already in labour.

Just under 11 hours later the baby, who is third in line to the throne after Charles and William, arrived at 4.24pm.

Palace sources said the couple chose to delay the public announcement of the birth until 8.30pm to allow them to spend “quality time” together.

Tony Appleton, a town crier, announces the birth of the royal baby

Everyone got the message loud and clear

“Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today.”
An official announcement

William, 31, was present for the natural birth, which was officially announced to the world on an easel put outside Buckingham Palace.

It read: “Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm today.

“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”

Royal sources said Kate would remain in hospital overnight.

The baby will be known as the Prince of Cambridge, the first baby to be given that title for more than 190 years.

Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace

Crowds of people try to look at a notice formally announcing the birth

Outside Buckingham Palace, thousands of well-wishers from around the globe who had gathered through the day broke into cheers of “hip-hip hooray!”

Kate, 31, and William had shunned a police escort as they were driven to the exclusive west London maternity unit.

A team of royal protection officers rushed the mum-to-be into the hospital via a rear exit, the same route taken by Princess Diana when she gave birth to William on the same ward in 1982.

Someone who saw the pair enter said: “Kate looked quite calm. They weren’t on view more than a minute.Nobody would have known it was them.”

The announcement was placed outside Buckingham Palace

The simple bulletin was greeted with cheers

Huge crowds greeted the announcement

William, 31, later said in a statement: “We couldn’t be happier.”

The Queen returned to London from Windsor Castle after asking officials to keep her informed.

Prince Charles, 64, said: “Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild.

“It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.

“Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby.”