Princess Charlotte makes history as royal baby boy is born
PRINCESS Charlotte has made history as Kensington Palace announced Kate gave birth to a royal baby boy and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child will retain her lineage to the throne.
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The new royal baby will be fifth in line to the throne, behind the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Prince Harry will drop down to sixth in line, pushing every other member of the Royal Family one place further from the throne.
And recent changes to the laws governing succession means the newest royal baby's sex will no longer have a bearing on his position to the throne, with boys no longer have precedence over girls.
Making history, Princess Charlotte will retain her position as fourth in line to the throne.
The new baby will be an HRH and a Prince of Cambridge – thanks to the Queen who stepped in ahead of Prince George's birth to ensure all William's children had fitting titles.
Bookies favour the royal baby being a boy with the latest odds for a Prince Arthur or Prince James slashed following the announcement that Kate is in labour.
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: "Royal fans are becoming increasingly convinced the baby is a little boy and they are purely focusing on boys names, and such is the support for James the odds have been slashed into joint favouritism at 3/1 with Arthur."
Other name favourites for a boy include Albert and Philip, while Alice and Mary are favoured for a royal baby girl.
Kensington Palace announced Kate was admitted to the private maternity wing in the early stages of labour yesterday morning.
Kensington Palace tweeted: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour.
“The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.”
Kate is being cared for by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist – both were part of the trusted team who delivered Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Highly-trained midwives will also be on hand, while experts will be waiting in the wings in case of an emergency.
For her previous births, Kate had a 23-strong team of top medics working or on standby.
Kate's labour coincides with St George's Day and if the royal baby is born by the end of the day, as expected, the little one will share their birthday with the patron saint of England.