KATE Middleton has finally gone into labour as the wait for the royal baby reaches its climax.

kate middleton, duchess of cambridge, labour, hospital, royal baby

Kate Middleton has gone into labour

Princess Kate has been admitted to St Mary's Hospital in London in the early stages of labour, according to Kensington Palace.

The palace said in a statement: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning 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."

Duke of Cambridge William and his younger brother Prince Harry were born in the Lindo wing and the Prince and Princess of Wales famously posed on the building's steps in 1982 holding baby William.

Royal fans have been patiently waiting for the new arrival

The wait for the royal baby is worldwide news

The press have been waiting for days for any news

“Kate is intending to have a natural birth”

Betting on the name of the royal baby, which will be third-in-line to the throne, has produced one favourite with a number of bookies - Alexandra.

Many punters believe Kate and Wills will have a girl and have put their money on the name.

Other names touted by royal fans include Charlotte, Diana, Elizabeth and Victoria, with George and James picked by those who think the new baby will be a boy.

William will take paternity leave from his job as an RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot.

Princess Kate is said to want a son

The new royal baby is destined to be king or queen

The Duchess travelled by car to hospital

But it is not known how long the Duchess will take off from her royal duties to care for her first child.

The new royal baby will be the Queen's third great-grandchild and is destined to be king or queen.

William wants a daughter while Kate is hoping for a son.

Kate is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children.

Kate is in labour at St Mary's Hospital

A policeman stands outside the Lindo Wing

Princess Diana and Prince Charles outside the Lindo Wing with newborn William

Assisting him is Alan Farthing, the former fiance of murdered TV presenter Jill Dando and the Queen's current gynaecologist.

The hospital's Lindo wing is a private obstetric unit, with prices starting at just under £5,000 for a normal delivery package over 24 hours, with consultants' fees around £6,000 extra depending on the care required.

Kate is intending to have a natural birth and she says she doens't know whether she's having a boy or a girl.