Ten weeks after she was born at London’s exclusive Portland Hospital, I am happy to report that Sir Tim Rice’s baby daughter Charlotte at last has a birth certificate.

But unfortunately, the document is missing a vital component – the father’s name.

Sir Tim, 72, has never denied that he fathered the child – his fourth – during a brief relationship with the academic and playwright Laura-Jane Foley earlier this year.

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Sir Tim, 72, has never denied that he fathered the child – his fourth – during a brief relationship with the academic and playwright Laura-Jane Foley earlier this year

However, the father’s name, occupation and signature have been left blank on the certificate, which is a public record.

According to friends of both parents, Laura-Jane had intended to give her baby the surname Rice-Foley, but has now settled on Foley instead.

I can also reveal that lyricist Sir Tim has agreed to contribute financially towards the cost of bringing up Charlotte.

Laura-Jane, 34, registered the birth at Westminster Register Office a week after the six-week time frame required by law.

Friends say she blames the delay on distress caused by a row over Charlotte’s surname.

Sir Tim also disagreed with Laura-Jane’s original plan to give her daughter the first name Florence.

According to friends of both parents, Laura-Jane had intended to give her baby the surname Rice-Foley, but has now settled on Foley instead

The father’s name, occupation and signature have been left blank on the certificate, which is a public record

‘The baby was called Rice-Foley originally, but Laura was so upset by Tim [preventing that] that she fled the register office in tears and went back the following week to register her baby as Foley,’ a source close to Laura-Jane told me.

‘The register office staff were very understanding and allowed her to register the baby after the six-week cut-off.’

According to my sources, Laura-Jane believed that she and Sir Tim were going to move in together and she was hoping for a long-term relationship with the lyricist.

One source added: ‘I understand that solicitors have been instructed on both sides to sort out an amicable future plan for Charlotte.’

Laura-Jane and Sir Tim declined to comment last night.