Breaking: Kate Middleton in labor, taken to hospital for birth of royal baby

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The birth of the royal baby is now just hours away!

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has been admitted to St. Mary's Hospital in the early stages of labor, CNN learned via Buckingham Palace early Monday morning. The duchess and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, traveled by car from Kensington Palace to the private Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital, next to Paddington Station in London. This is the same place where William was born, as was his brother, Harry.

The duchess's mother, Carole Middleton, was expected to be on hand at the hospital. However, Home Secretary Theresa May said she won't be there. As May explained, centuries ago "the home secretary had to be there to evidence that it was genuinely a royal birth and that a baby hadn't been smuggled in." But she said that requirement is no longer necessary.

According to royal protocol, Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister David Cameron and the governors general of each of the commonwealth nations will be the first to learn about the baby's arrival -- along with the rest of the royal and Middleton families.

The baby will be third in line for the throne behind Prince Charles and William. In addition, the child already has an official title: His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess (the baby's name) of Cambridge, St. James's Palace. However, we could be waiting a while before we learn the child's name, as it took Prince Charles and Princess Diana a week to name Prince William, and a full month for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip to name Prince Charles.