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Kate Middleton has given birth to a "wonderful", "beautiful" son with Prince William at her side in hospital.

The baby weighed 8lbs 6oz and was born at 4.24pm. Kate went into the Lindo wing in the early stages of labour this morning.

Prince William said tonight: "We could not be happier."

The birth was announced with a press release, a change to the planned protocol which was to see the news delivered to Buckingham Palace and displayed on an easel.

The statement said: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm. The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.

"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"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.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

The prince's name is yet to be announced but will be revealed "in due course".

The baby was delivered by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who declared the new arrival a "wonderful baby, beautiful baby" as he left the Lindo Wing at around 9.20pm alongside other members of the medical team.

Prince William rang the Queen and then rang other relatives. He also spoke to Prince Charles and Prince Harry. The Middletons have also been told of the arrival of their grandchild.

First-time grandfather 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.”

The baby will have the title the Prince of Cambridge - the first time the title has been used for more than 190 years.

Soon after the palace announcement was made, a notice giving details about the baby - the third-in-line to the throne - left St Mary's Hospital in London by car for Buckingham Palace.

It has been signed by Dr Marcus Setchell, who led the medical team that delivered Kate's baby.

The notice has been placed on an easel in the palace's forecourt just like the announcement of William's birth on June 21, 1982, a traditional element of theatre in marked contrast to the modern age of emails and Twitter.

The new royal baby is the Queen's third great-grandchild but her first great-grandson - and is destined to be crowned monarch.

He will be the 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if, as expected, it follows reigns by the Prince of Wales then William.

Kate was admitted to hospital around 6am this morning after going into labour.

The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace without a police escort.

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Kate and Wills announced they were expecting their first baby in December last year after the Duchess was admitted to a private hospital with a severe form of morning sickness.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shunned the traditional Royal Family festivities at Sandringham to spend Christmas Day at the Middleton family home Bucklebury, Berkshire, in a bid to help Kate recover.

And the break seemed to do her a power of good, as most of the speculation since has centred on whether the royal baby would be a future king or queen rather than its mother's health.

In March, bookies paid out on it being a girl after Kate told Diana Burton, 41, who gave her a teddy bear in Grimsby: “Thank you, I will take that for my d...” before stopping herself.

The following month, the couple said they had a shortlist of names for boys and girls when they announced that the baby was due in mid July.

Then in May, Ladbrokes reported a flood of money on the Royal baby being a boy after Prince Harry reportedly gave the game away.

Now the speculation is over, their little boy will be able to enjoy his own lullaby penned by royal wedding composer, Paul Mealor.

His tune Sleep On was sung by classical superstar Hayley Westenra.