UK's Duchess Kate gives birth to a daughter
New princess, who was born weighing 3.71 kg, is fourth in line to the throne; Kensington Palace says mother and child are doing well.
Britain's Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, has given birth to a daughter, the couple's residence Kensington Palace announced on Saturday.
Kensington Palace said a brief statement that Kate "was safely delivered of a daughter" at 8:34 am London time (7:34 am GMT), less than three hours after she was admitted to a hospital.
The baby weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces (3.71 kg) and both mother and child are doing well, it added in a Twitter statement.
The new princess is fourth in line to the throne and the fifth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II.
The statement said that senior royals have been informed, and "are delighted with the news."
The announcement was greeted by cheers outside the hospital, where die-hard royal fans dressed in patriotic Union Jack gear have been camping out on the sidewalk, eagerly awaiting news. Delighted chants of "Princess! Princess!" sounded outside the hospital's private Lindo Wing.
A town crier in elaborate costume shouted out the news at the hospital's door, clanging his bell to welcome the new royal. "May our princess be long-lived, happy and glorious," said Tony Appleton, reading from a scroll in a booming voice.
Officials are not expected to announce the name of the newborn immediately. When George was born, officials waited two days before announcing his name.
In a brief statement released early Saturday morning, palace officials said the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 6 am local time (5 am GMT) to the exclusive Lindo wing at St. Mary's Hospital, arriving by car with William.
The couple's first child, Prince George, was born July 22, 2013 at the same hospital. William, who is on leave from his job as an air ambulance pilot, was at his wife's side in the hospital, as he was for George's birth.
Prime Minister David Cameron sent his best wishes in a Twitter message. "The whole country will wish her well," he said. The queen and other senior royals, including Prince Harry, who is in Australia, have been notified, officials said.
The pending birth and uncertainty about the gender has been a boon for Britain's bookmakers, who say they have received thousands of bets on the newborn's gender and possible name. Betting was part suspended after Saturday's announcement, though wagers were still being placed on a name and other characteristics.
"Punters have gone royal baby betting mad and now that Kate has gone into labor, there is a huge scramble to predict the royal baby's gender, name, weight, and hair color amongst other things," Coral spokeswoman Nicola McGeady said. "Tens of thousands of bets are being placed across the nation, sparking one of the biggest gambles we have ever seen on a non-sporting event."
Anticipation has been building for days. Kate had told a well-wisher earlier this year that the child was due in the second two weeks of April, kicking off what the tabloid press called the Great Kate Wait.
The couple has been anxious to avoid the media circus that accompanied George's birth, and camera crews began setting up only after the announcement Saturday morning.
Kate is residing in style. Each en-suite in the private maternity unit has Wifi, satellite television, a radio, a safe, a bedside phone and a refrigerator. The wing also offers a "comprehensive wine list should you wish to enjoy a glass of champagne and toast your baby's arrival."
Kate gets a 10 percent loyalty discount, as she had her first child there as well.
A suite now costs 6,570 pounds ($10,034) for a one-night stay with normal delivery - or 5,913 pounds with Kate's discount. Doctors' fees are extra.
The princess will hold her place in the line of succession, and would be the first to benefit from a change in the law which had always put men ahead of their sisters.
All the top bets for the baby's name are for girls. Alice and Charlotte are the clear favorites, followed by Elizabeth, Victoria and Diana - all names with strong connections to royal tradition.
Prince Charles has signaled - twice - that he's hoping for a granddaughter, which led some to speculate that Charles had some inside information.
But many probably just hope Britain will see a new princess: The monarchy has not welcomed a princess born this high up the line of succession for many years.
Princess Anne, Charles' sister, was born third in line in 1950. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were fifth and sixth in line at the time of their birth.
At 21 months, George is currently third in line to the throne, after his grandfather Prince Charles and William. The newborn will become the fourth in line, bumping Uncle Harry to fifth place.
