Royal Princess: Duchess of Cambridge, Kate gives birth to baby girl

The Duchess of Cambridge in the United Kingdom has given birth to a baby girl, Kensington Palace has confirmed.

The princess was born at 8.34 on Saturday morning weighing 8lbs 3oz, with the Duke of Cambridge present for her birth.

Kensington Palace announced the birth shortly after 11am, some five hours after Kate was admitted to the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.

The Duchess and her newborn daughter are both ‘doing well’, a palace spokesman said.

The announcement came by way of a statement released by Kensington Palace shortly after 11am. It was then posted on the palace’s official Twitter page two minutes later.

“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am,” it said.

“The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. 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.”

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, was among the first to congratulate the couple, writing on Twitter: “Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl. I’m absolutely delighted for them.”

Kate was admitted to the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital at 6.00am on Saturday, giving birth two-and-a-half hours later.

The announcement was not made to the media until shortly after 11am once the couple’s close friends and family had been informed.

Kate is expected to spend one night in Kensington Palace with her new daughter and Prince George before retreating to Anmer Hall in Norfolk with Prince William and her parents.

When news of her birth was announced, chants of ‘princess! princess! princess!’ were heard outside the Lindo Wing.

William and Kate’s new daughter, a younger sister for Prince George, who was born at the same hospital in July 2013, is fourth in line to the throne.

Although she is unlikely to ever become queen, it is not unheard of for a second child in the direct line of succession to accede to the throne.

Most recently, the Queen’s own father, King George V1, replaced his elder brother, King Edward V111, who abdicated over his love for the ‘unsuitable’ American divorcee Wallis Simpson.

Thanks to a recent change in the law, the couple’s daughter cannot be superseded in her claim to the throne by any younger brother who may yet come along.

The Succession to the Crown Act, passed in 2013, means that male heirs no longer precede their elder sisters in the line of succession