SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Prince & Princess of Wales

Kate admitted to Lindo Wing for royal baby birth

The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital for the birth of the new royal baby, the Palace say.

Catherine arrived with Prince William on Saturday 6 May and was admitted to the private ward at 06:00 BST.

St Mary's Hospital, Paddington where The duchess of Cambridge will give birth to Baby Cambridge.

St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington where The Duchess of Cambridge will give birth to Baby Cambridge.

Prince William travelled with her, having completed his air ambulance training last week.

The Duke of Cambridge will be able to spend time with the new baby once it’s born.

Last week Kensington Palace commented: “His final block of in-work training requires an uninterrupted three-week block of working time and the availability of the new EC145 helicopter that will be used for missions.

“This has always been scheduled to commence on 1st June, following a pre-planned period of official royal engagements in late May, details of which will be announced in due course.

“As he now will not have any further training to complete after returning from paternity leave, he will not return to duties with Bond until that time, and will remain on unpaid leave until then.”

St Mary’s has a history of royal births. Princes William, Harry and George were all born at the Paddington hospital as were Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.

The royal birth notice will be posted on an easel just inside the gates of Buckingham Palace. For the first time, the birth announcement will also be released via social media.

The last time a reigning monarch was alive at the birth of one of his or her great-grandchildren in direct succession was 120 years ago.

The Duke of Edinburgh was playing squash when Prince Charles was born in 1948. Charles was not however the first royal father to attend the birth of his children; Prince Albert was at the births of his children with Queen Victoria.

41 guns is the traditional salute to the birth of a royal baby by the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. Union Jack flags meanwhile will be flown from Royal Navy ships in celebration.

This story is breaking news, refresh this page to see our latest updates.

Photo credit: Steve Rhodes via Flickr