Prince William's wife Kate on Saturday gave birth to a girl, who will be fourth in line to the British throne, Kensington Palace said in a statement.
"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34 am," the statement said.
The Duchess was had been admitted to hospital in London in labour earlier on Saturday with the couple's new baby, as the country celebrated the impending birth of the fourth in line to the British throne.
Media teams from around the world rushed to the private maternity wing of St Mary's hospital in the early morning, joining a group of royal superfans who have remained camped outside for more than a week.
"The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 6.00 hours to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and is in the early stages of labour," read a statement from the royal couple's residence, Kensington Palace.
TRENDING ON TWITTER
"The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William)," it said.
British Prime Minister David Cameron sent his best wishes in a tweet.
"The whole country will wish her well," he wrote.
Within minutes of the announcement, the news was trending on Twitter with the hashtag #royalbaby and more and more curious onlookers could be seen arriving at the private clinic in the city centre.
TRADITIONS SORROUNDING A BRITISH ROYAL BIRTH
Prince William and his wife Kate may be modern parents but their second child is a royal and certain traditions will have to be respected when it comes to the birth of the new prince or princess.
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Once, the home secretary would have been expected to witness births of potential heirs. Fortunately for Kate this tradition ended with the birth of the queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra, in 1936.
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William attended the labour the first time around and is expected to do so again. Queen Victoria's husband Albert, her son, the future Edward VII, and Prince Charles all witnessed their wives give birth.
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Queen Elizabeth II, senior royals and Kate's parents, the Middletons, will be first to be informed of the news.
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It will be made public first on the monarchy's Twitter and Facebook feeds, then in the traditional way, with a proclamation signed by royal doctors displayed on an easel in the Buckingham Palace forecourt — the same easel used to announce George and William's births.
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Cannons will be fired across London in celebration, 62 shots from the Tower of London and 41 from Green Park , and the Union Jack flag will be flown from government buildings across Britain.
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All births in England and Wales, regardless of parentage, must be registered within 42 days of the birth at the hospital or a local register office.
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The home secretary will notify the Lord Mayor of London, while the queen's private secretary informs governor generals overseas.
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The baby's name may not be revealed for several days, William's name was not announced for a week, while the world had to wait one month after his father Charles was born. George was named two days after his birth.
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The new baby will be a prince or a princess of Cambridge and will enjoy the title of his or her royal highness (HRH), but William and Kate can choose his or her surname.
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In the military, William used the surname Wales after his father, the Prince of Wales, but his children may also be called Cambridge, after his title, the duke of Cambridge.
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The baby will be christened as a member of the Church of England, wearing a replica of the intricate lace and satin gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841.
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The original robe, which has a long skirt and elaborate collars and bow, was last used in 2004.To preserve it, a replica was commissioned from the queen's dresser Angela Kelly.
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George was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace, with water from the River Jordan poured into the traditional silver Lily Font.
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Royal babies usually have around six godparents, people who agree to support the child particularly in their faith.George has seven, including Zara Tindall, William's cousin.
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