Kate Middleton Gives Birth To A Boy - Royal Baby Is Here! - Video
Credit: Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images
After roughly 14 hours of labor, the heir to the crown has finally arrived, reports ABC News!
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth today to her first child by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge: a healthy baby boy!
"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24 p.m.," Kensington Palace said in a statement. "The baby weighs 8 lbs. 6 oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth."
The statement continues: "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." The palace adds, "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."
The birth of the child has been one of the most media-saturated stories this year, with a host of conflicting reports about the details of the birth circulating online in the past several weeks. The original due date had been reported by several different outlets as July 11, before being changed to July 13. Once the baby failed to arrive that weekend, new reports came to light in which members of the royal family were speculating on the baby's forthcoming arrival, with Camilla Parker-Bowles pegging the child's birth on the week of July 19, a date confirmed by hospital workers who'd been given that due date. Queen Elizabeth herself even spoke up about the birth, saying that she hoped the child would come before her annual vacation to her estate at Balmoral.
The child, whose birth was announced to the public four hours after his delivery, is third in line to the throne behind Prince Charles and Prince William, with the child's uncle, Prince Harry, moving down to fourth in line. Meanwhile, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, falls to fifth in line while Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie move to sixth and seventh, respectively.
Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess, and to the entire royal family!