Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge show their new-born baby boy to the world's media, outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London. PHOTO: AFP
The baby was born on Monday after at least 10 hours of labour, weighing a healthy eight pounds six ounces (3.8 kilograms), ending weeks of anticipation around the globe. He was shown to the world on Tuesday when the Duchess left the hospital.
The baby is third in line to the throne and in the direct line of succession after head of state Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir Prince Charles, and then his eldest son William.
William and Kate did not know the sex of their child until he was born, although the duchess reportedly told a soldier at a St Patrick’s Day parade in March: “I’d like to have a boy and William would like a girl.”
It is the first time since 1894 that three direct heirs to the throne have been alive at the same time, and the 87-year-old queen said she was “delighted” at the birth of her third great-grandchild.
William and Kate are hugely popular and have been widely credited with revitalising the British royals following decades of scandal and the death of William’s mother Diana in a car crash in 1997.
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