The Royal Baby Is Here! Kate Middleton Gives Birth To A Healthy Baby Boy!

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are at parents at last! Yes it's been a long week for everyone (Kate Middleton more than others of course), but after being over-due for a number of days and spending an arduous, almost day-long struggle in labour, Kate and William are parents at last.

Congratulations to the new parents

The official word from the palace is that Kate has indeed given birth to a healthy boy, with the child arriving at 4.24 pm GMT and weighing 8lb 6oz. A statement form the palace states that the Duchess and her child are "doing well" and will be staying in hospital overnight before returning to the royal residence.

This means that the next three monarch of the United Kingdom will all be male, with Prince Charles - William's father - the next in line for the throne, followed by William and then the little one. Had the Duchess given birth to a girl, she would have automatically ascended to the throne anyway after Queen Elizabeth II's 2011 altercation to Commonwealth law spelt a change to succession laws in order to make them more equal. The new rules imposed by the reigning monarch and approved of unanimously by 16 Commonwealth nations reversed 300 years of tradition, custom and law, and means that the first born of any future monarch will automatically become the first in line for the throne, regardless of gender. The new legislation also repelled the law that no future monarch could marry a Catholic, a rule that was as archaic as the males first rule.

No word on a name yet

On a less serious note than succession, betting outlets across the globe are betting George as a possible name for the child, with James or Henry as possible alternatives. In terms of where this would sit with future monarchs, it would be George VII, James III or Henry IX. Strangely enough names like, Blue Ivy and North are nowhere to be seen on the bookmaker's assumptions (with the Windsor surname, Castle would make a good novelty name, if Kate and Wills are willing to take that route).

Catherine and William arrived by car, flanked by police escorts, at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, at around 6 am GMT on Friday (July 19) and it was reported on Monday (July 22) that Kate had gone into labour. The couple had kept the sex of their child a secret until the big day and we're sure they're just as happy with the outcome as we are.

Congratulations to Catherine and William and their new child, and to the future King of the United Kingdom. We look forward to watching you grow up!

Kate gave birth this afternoon

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Royal Baby Frenzy at St. Mary's for Nothing? Kate Middleton Could End Up Giving Birth Somewhere Else!

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The world may need to make a detour.

Media, passers-by and practically anyone else you can think of have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of Kate Middleton and Prince William's little prince or princess at St. Mary's hospital in London, but maybe that's not where the Duchess of Cambridge is going to give birth.

Gasp!

PHOTO: Kate stuns at final pre-baby public appearance

As previously reported, Kate has moved from lying low in Nottingham Cottage in London and relocated to her parents' home in Bucklebury to spend some time with her family before the baby's birth. However, Kate's parents' home is about 53 miles away from St. Mary's in London—the hospital where she is due to deliver.

Considering the fact that her due date has already passed—which means it can seriously be any day now—it seems a little risky to be so far from the famous Lindo Wing at St. Mary's.

With that said, the new royal may be welcomed at a hospital in Reading, a half hour away from Kate's parents' home.

LOOK: Check out Kate Middleton's birthing suite

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

The Royal Berkshire Hospital, in the center of Reading, delivers almost 6,000 babies per year, and offers women the choice of giving birth on the labor ward or in the Rushey midwife-led birth center, which has four rooms themed on the four seasons, according to The Telegraph.

Earlier reports stated that aides have planned to take the duchess to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading or a hospital in Bangor, near to their home on the Isle of Anglesey, if she goes into labor early or if there is a medical emergency. But if she is at Bucklebury and there is time, they are expected to take her into London to the Lindo Wing.

A palace source tells The Telegraph, "It is still a possibility that she could give birth there, though that would only be in extremis, as the expectation is that she will go to St Mary's."

PHOTOS: Check out these Kate Middleton pregnancy pics

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Royal Baby Watch: Find Out Where Kate Middleton, Prince William & the Rest of the Family Are Ahead of the Royal Birth

by Bruna Nessif Tue., Jul. 16, 2013 5:30 PM PDT

Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

We're not the only ones awaiting the (now later than anticipated) arrival of the royal baby—Kate Middleton, Prince William and the rest of the royal family are also joining in on the waiting game.

But where and how are they passing the time?

PHOTO: Prince William plays polo in the midst of royal baby watch

The soon-to-be "brilliant" mother, who was laying low at Nottingham Cottage in London, recently relocated to her parents' home in Bucklebury to spend some time with her family before the baby's birth. Kate's parents' home is about 53 miles away from St. Mary's in London—the hospital where she is due to deliver.

Meanwhile, Wills is preparing to hop on a helicopter to be by his wife's bedside. In fact, a source told E! News exclusively that the daddy-to-be canceled Monday night plans with his guy friends just in case Middleton went into labor during that time.

His backing out of plans with the boys is "unexpected," adds a source, so he might be on to something (or just having pre-parental anxiety!) about when the royal baby is planning to make his or her debut.

PHOTOS: St. Mary's Hospital beefs up security for royal baby

Meanwhile, Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, were spotted at the Little Harbour children's hospice at Porthpean, near St. Austell, Cornwall, yesterday, for their annual "Cornwall Week," which includes meeting locals and highlighting the work of worthy causes.

During their visit, the Duchess of Cornwall let it slip that she expects Kate to give birth "by the end of the week."

"We are all just waiting by the telephone," Camilla said in an impromptu speech. "We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here."

PHOTOS: Kate & William's own baby pics

LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth has been keeping busy by counting swans (no, seriously).

Her Majesty is currently performing the annual tradition of Swan Upping, where she literally counts all of her mute swans.

Lastly, there's the hunky uncle-to-be Prince Harry, who has been pretty MIA throughout the waiting game, however his doppelgänger made a surprise appearance outside the Lindo Wing this morning. His lookalike arrived decked out in full military regalia, alongside a giant bear who sported a Union Jack scarf and crown.

Sweet of him to provide some entertainment during this time, don't ya think?

Make sure to tune in to E! after the royal baby's birth for A Royal Family: An E! News Special

PHOTOS: Royally pregnant Kate Middleton

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