LONDON - Prince William's wife Kate on Monday gave birth to a baby boy who will one day be heir to the British throne, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
A Town Crier reads an announcement about the birth of a baby boy at 4.24pm (12:42am Thailand time) to Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London. (AFP photo)
"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24pm (1524GMT)," said the statement. "The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz. (3.8 kilos)."
"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," palace officials stated in an official press release. Prince William was present at the birth of his first child. The name of his firstborn son will be released "in due course."
In the meantime, officials are preparing to post the news to the forecourt at Buckingham Palace this evening, as is royal custom.
"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," according to the brief statement emailed to members of the press, many of whom have been camped outside of St. Marys Hospital for days.
The birth marks a new era for not only the first-time parents but also the extended royal family. As third in line to succeed the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and his father, Prince William, he's the first baby born under new succession laws.
The birth of a boy means that, under regular succession, Britain will not have a queen again for at least four generations.