Kate Middleton gives birth to baby boy

London: Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Prince William, today gave birth to a boy, their third child, making him fifth-in-line to the British throne. The baby was born at 1101hrs local time, Kensington Palace said in a statement.

William, the 35-year-old Duke of Cambridge, was present at the birth of his boy, who weighs 3.82 kg. The palace added that the mother and baby are “doing well”. “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,” the statement said.

A notice has been placed on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace following the announcement of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridges third child. The new baby is fifth-in-line to the British throne, behind her grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William, brother Prince George, 4, and sister Princess Charlotte, 2.

The name of the new prince has not yet been announced. Favourites at the bookmakers include Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip, the BBC reported. Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted her “warmest congratulations” to William and Catherine.

She said: “I wish them great happiness for the future.” Earlier, the 36-year-old Duchess of Cambridge was today admitted to the Lindo Wing of St Marys Hospital in London, where both her previous pregnancies ? George in 2013 and Charlotte in 2015 were also born.

The new child will be fifth in line to the British throne, behind big sister Charlotte and pushing uncle Prince Harry one place down the line of succession to sixth. He will be the sixth great grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 92nd birthday on Saturday.

A change in the law after William and Kate were married in April 2011 gave female heirs the same rights of accession to the throne in the UK as men. Kate suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe levels of nausea and vomiting, during the early stages of her pregnancy during all three births.