Kate Middleton has given birth to her third child. And it’s a baby boy!
Kate Middleton safely delivered her son at 11:01 a.m. London time (around 6:01 a.m. ET), Kensington Palace announced.
The baby weighs 8 lbs, 7 oz. Prince William was present for the birth. Middleton and the new prince are “both doing well,” according to the palace.
Kesington Palace’s statement on Twitter read:
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.
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.
Kensington Palace announced on April 23 that Kate Middleton has gone into labor, and has been admitted to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London.
Shortly after 8.20am, Kensington Palace said the Duchess travelled to the hospital by car and was in the ‘early stages of labour.’ Royal watchers were all expecting a swift delivery.
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s third child will be fifth in line to the throne, following four-year-old big brother, Prince George (who is third in line) and two-year-old big sister Princess Charlotte (who is fourth).
Kensington Palace first announced that the Duchess of Cambridge was expecting in September 2017.
Big congratulations to the new parents.
Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte just made history thanks to the arrival of her new baby brother.
Princess Charlotte is now the first female royal to retain her claim to the throne and not be bumped down the line by the arrival of a new male.
Thanks to a change in the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 which states:
“In determining the succession to the Crown, the gender of a person born after 28 October 2011 does not give that person, or that person’s descendants, precedence over any other person (whenever born).
If this change hadn’t been introduced Princess Charlotte, who is currently fourth in line to the throne, would have been bumped down to fifth with the arrival of her baby brother.
The new baby would have taken her spot.
