Members of the royal family and the Middletons are today expected to be among the first visitors to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s newborn son.
Prince Charles will likely be among the visitors to Kensington Palace to meet the fifth-in-line to the throne along with Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton.
Prince William and his wife spent their first night as a family of five at their home in West London after their new baby son was born at about 11am yesterday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge pose with their newborn son yesterday outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London
Prince William joked yesterday, holding up three fingers, that he had ‘thrice the worry now’
More than 100,000 bets have now been put on the baby name, with James the most popular in terms of individual wagers placed with one bookmaker
Kensington Palace said the name would be announced in ‘due course’ but the favourite at the bookies is currently Arthur, followed by James, Philip and Albert.
More than 100,000 bets have now been put on the baby name, with James the most popular in terms of individual wagers placed with bookmaker Ladbrokes.
Big bets placed with the company yesterday included £11,000 for the baby to be a boy at 10/11, as well as £2,000 on Philip and £1,000 on both James and Albert.
Today, while the public continue to try to guess the name, the Army will fire gun salutes at Hyde Park and the Tower of London at 2pm in honour of the new arrival.
The baby prince’s great-grandmother the Queen, 92, is still at Windsor Castle for Easter Court, with the Duke of Edinburgh who is recovering after a hip operation.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who visited their new sibling at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, yesterday, are likely to be at school and nursery.
The Duke and Duchess thanked the hospital for their care and the public for their wishes
During his first photocall, the baby, who was wrapped in a white lace shawl with a matching bonnet, could be seen moving his fingers as he was cradled by Kate
The London Eye is illuminated in red, white and blue yesterday to show support for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after they welcomed their new baby son into the world
William and Kate have retreated to the sanctuary of Kensington Palace after introducing their third child to the world on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s.
The name of the 8lb 7oz baby prince of Cambridge has yet to be unveiled. Royals traditionally keep the public guessing before revealing their choice.
William and Kate will want to share the name with the Queen and the rest of their family before making it public – but it is likely to be revealed by the end of tomorrow.
A confident Charlotte, who turns three on May 2, turned to wave at photographers outside the hospital as she led the way up the steps holding William’s hand.
Four-year-old George, in his school uniform from Thomas’s Battersea, appeared more wary of the huge crowds of media.
During his first photocall, the baby, who was wrapped in a white lace shawl with a matching bonnet, could be seen moving his fingers as he was cradled by Kate.
Prince George and Princess Charlotte visited their new sibling at St Mary’s Hospital yessterday
A confident Charlotte turned to wave at photographers outside the hospital as she led the way
Smiling broadly, the Duchess was dressed in a vibrant red Jenny Packham dress with a white lace collar, reminiscent of William’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.
She wore red and white outside the Lindo Wing after Prince Harry was born in 1984.
As William and Kate headed home after appearing in front of the cameras with their seven-hour-old son, the Duke said they were ‘very happy’ and ‘very delighted’.
He joked, holding up three fingers, that he had ‘thrice the worry now’, adding: ‘We didn’t keep you waiting too long this time.’
Quizzed on whether they had decided on a name, the Duke added: ‘You’ll find out soon enough.’ The Duke and Duchess thanked the hospital for their care and the public for their wishes.
Kensington Palace said: ‘Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all staff at the hospital for the care and treatment they have received. They would also like to thank everyone for their warm wishes.’
The words ‘It’s a boy’ flashed in lights around the top of London’s BT Tower yesterday, while the London Eye was illuminated in red, white and blue yesterday to show support for the family.
By welcoming a baby prince, William and Kate are following the birth pattern of the Queen and Philip’s children – a son, a daughter and then another son.
The Queen and the Duke had Prince Charles, then Princess Anne, then Prince Andrew after a ten-year gap, with a fourth child, Prince Edward, born four years later.