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Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy

Buckingham Palace has announced that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy.

The announcement was made in an email, and minutes later a notice was also placed on an easel on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The easel was the same one that was used when Prince William was born.

A short time afterwards, the details were released via Twitter. The baby is 8lbs 6oz, heavier than Prince William, who weighed 7lbs 1oz when he was born on June 21, 1982.

The baby will officially be known as HRH Prince (name) of Cambridge.


The Queen, other senior members of the Royal family and the Middleton family had already been informed when the announcement was made.

In line with royal tradition, the Duke and Duchess have not yet revealed the baby's name. The Duke of Cambridge was not named for a week after his birth, partly because his parents reportedly disagreed over names.

Celebratory gun salutes will now be fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery in Green Park (41 rounds) and the Honorable Artillery Company at the Tower of London (62 rounds).

Baby Cambridge will make his public debut when the Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital and stands on the same spot where Diana, Princess of Wales was first photographed holding Prince William 31 years ago.

No date has yet been set for when the baby will be christened, but it is likely to be some time in the autumn, when the Royal family return from their summer break at Balmoral.

The Duke of Cambridge, for example, was christened six weeks after his birth, in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace, using water drawn from the River Jordan in the Holy Land, in keeping with a tradition dating back to the Crusades.

Another royal tradition is for babies to wear a lace and satin christening robe made in 1841 and worn by all of Queen Victoria's children and every generation of royal babies since, including Prince William.

After the Duchess had given birth, a Royal aide left the private Lindo wing of the hospital carrying the all-important piece of paper at 8.36pm.

The document was handed to a waiting driver, who took it to Buckingham Palace under police escort so the news could be placed on the easel.

via : telegraph.co.uk