Duchess of Cambridge gives birth to third child

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Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and wife of Britain’s Prince William, has given birth to a boy at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital, Kensington Palace announced on Monday.

This is the royal couple’s third child after Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

According to Kensington Palace, the boy was born at 1001 GMT and weighs 8lbs 7oz.

A screenshot of Kensington Palace's Twitter Account. /Photo via Tiwtter‍

“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,” Kensington Palace said.

“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”

The new prince is Queen Elizabeth's sixth great-grandchild and fifth-in-line to the British throne behind siblings Prince George, age four; his two-year-old sister Princess Charlotte; their father William; and grandfather and heir Prince Charles.

A 2013 change to the law means the boy will not supplant his older sister Charlotte in the order of succession. Previously younger males would take precedence over older female siblings.

A man dressed as a town crier shouts outside the St Mary's Hospital after Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to a son, in London. /Reuters Photo

“That would in fact be the first time that has ever happened,” royal historian Hugo Vickers said.

William’s younger brother Harry, who is set to marry US actress Meghan Markle next month, falls to sixth on the list.

Kensington Palace said the name of the new royal would be announced in due course. Bookmakers have made Albert, Arthur, Jack and Fred the favorite names for a boy.

In keeping with tradition, the official announcement of the birth will be made by placing a notice on an easel in the forecourt of the queen’s London home, Buckingham Palace.

Supporters of the royal family celebrate outside St Mary's Hospital after Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth to a son. /Reuters Photo

“My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby boy,” Prime Minister Theresa May said. “I wish them great happiness for the future.”

William and Kate met as students at St. Andrews University in Scotland. They got married in a pageant-packed ceremony at Westminster Abbey in April 2011 and have since become well-known across the global stage.

The couple now live at Kensington Palace and last year William gave up his day job as an air ambulance pilot to concentrate full time on royal duties on behalf of his grandmother, having faced some criticism from British newspapers who dubbed him “workshy Wills”.

File photo of Britain's Prince William, his wife Princess Catherine, Prince George and Princess Charlotte during a visit to Germany. /VCG Photo

He has been determined to play a hands-on role in bringing up his children while also protecting their privacy, an issue close to his heart after the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a Paris car crash as her limousine sped away from chasing paparazzi.

“I think he takes on a lot more engagements than he used to,” said royal biographer Claudia Joseph.

“But compared to members of the general public who have full-time jobs, he still has some time off to look after the children, to give them their baths, to put them to bed and I think he’ll continue to do that,” Joseph said.

(With inputs from Reuters)