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Royal baby: Duke and Duchess show off new son

Royal baby

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left hospital after the arrival of their third child, a boy.

The new prince, who was born at St Mary’s Hospital, London, at 11:01 BST, weighing 8lb 7oz, is fifth in line to the throne.

Earlier, Prince George and Princess Charlotte visited their younger brother at the Lindo Wing.

Kensington Palace said the Duchess of Cambridge and her son, who is yet to be named, are “both doing well”.

Just before 18:00 BST, Prince William and Catherine came out of the hospital briefly to greet the crowds with their new son.

They then returned inside to put their newborn son in his car seat before driving away towards Kensington Palace.

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's newborn sonImage copyrightPA
Image captionThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s newborn son is fifth in line to the throne

Members of both families have said they are “delighted with the news” of the birth.

Kensington Palace said the name of the baby would be announced in due course while a formal notice of the birth had been posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace.

Favourite names at the bookmakers include Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip.

Media captionPrincess Charlotte turned to wave at the crowds before entering St Mary’s Hospital

Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted her “warmest congratulations” to William and Catherine.

She said: “I wish them great happiness for the future.”

The new line of succession

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also sent his regards, tweeting: “Congratulations to Kate and William on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them all the very best.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury added: “Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the safe delivery of their baby, a brother for Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

“May God bless them and all of their children with love, happiness and health.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “On behalf of Londoners, I want to send our warmest congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy.”

Sir Vince Cable, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their son.

“I’m sure his older brother will be delighted he has been born on St George’s Day!”

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A sense of renewal

After some quieter times, the Royal Family is back in the news – and there is a noticeable sense of renewal; new faces, with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiance, making her first public appearances, and now another child, the as-yet unnamed third child of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

It’s always gone like this – waves of interest followed by periods of relative quiet. But there has been a sense of renewal in the past few months.

Of course there has been concern over the health of the Duke of Edinburgh; and interest in the Queen, with her decades of service, never falters.

But the attention of a new group, both in Britain and around the world, has been caught by this birth and then the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle next month.

From the darkest days of the World War Two to the Instagram generation, the Royal Family now connects them all.  (BBC)

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