LONDON — Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth Monday to a boy, a much-anticipated royal baby descended from kings and coal miners and third in line to the British throne.
The royal heir was born at 4:24 p.m. London time and weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, the royal family announced. There was no immediate word on the boy’s name. News of the birth set off celebrations across Britain, and a large crowd gathered outside Buckingham Palace.
A speeding car arrived at Buckingham Palace Monday, bringing the birth announcement of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge's son.
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Prince William and Duchess Kate’s first child means a reworking of who is next in line for the British throne.
The official announcement said Prince William was present for the birth of his son. It 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.”
It said the duchess and her child “are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.”
In a statement Monday evening, Prince William’s father, Prince Charles, 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 in the near future.”
Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters that the birth was “wonderful news,” adding that it marked “an important moment in the life of our nation,” as well as a “wonderful moment” for Prince William and Catherine.
“They can know that a proud nation is celebrating with a very proud and happy couple tonight” Cameron said.
Congratulations also poured in from around the world.
In Washington, President Obama said in a statement released by the White House: “Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child. We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings. The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations. Given the special relationship between us, the American people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince.”
In a brief statement earlier Monday, officials at Kensington Palace said the duchess, formerly called Kate Middleton, was driven in a car to the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital near Paddington Station in West London, where the world press has been camped out for weeks in the hopes of getting a first glimpse of the littlest heir. Prince William rode with his wife to the hospital and remained by her side, a palace spokeswoman said.
Although that initial statement was issued at 7:29 a.m. local time, Catherine was admitted during the early stages of labor just before 6 a.m., the spokeswoman said. She is in the same wing of the same hospital where Diana, Princess of Wales, gave birth to Prince William 31 years ago after a 16-hour labor