Royal Homecoming: Kate, William Leave Hospital With Baby Girl
Cheers filled London — and social media — as the world welcomed the new princess.
By Michael Rodio ••
The royal baby has been introduced!
Just hours after giving birth to a girl, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, stepped outside a London hospital with husband Prince William and the princess on Saturday. They didn't speak, but smiled and waved to the crowd.
Her Royal Highness delivered her second child at 8:34 a.m. local time (3:34 a.m. ET), at a healthy weight of 8 pounds, 3 ounces, Kensington Palace officials announced on social media.
Kate and her newborn daughter are both doing well, officials said. Her husband, Prince William, was by her side for the birth.
Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion.
The Duke drove the Duchess by car from Kensington Palace to the hospital at 6 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET) when she started going into labor, the palace said.
A growing crowd of well-wishers and media had gathered around the hospital in recent days, eagerly awaiting the new royal baby in what U.K. tabloids dubbed "The Great Kate Wait." That crowd swelled with the royal pronouncement in Saturday's early hours, as media and royal family fans gathered outside the Lindo Wing in eager anticipation of the royal baby's delivery.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 2, 2015
William was briefly seen walking out of the hospital at about 4 p.m. on Saturday, and returned a short while later with the couple's first child, Prince George. The crowd outside the hospital erupted in cheers as William exited.
"How's your daughter? How's she doing?" a woman yelled to him.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were "absolutely delighted" at the birth of the new princess, Clarence House said.
Footage shows towering flames in San Francisco as crews battle a fire caused by a gas explosion.
The president congratulated the royal couple in a statement.
"Michelle and I are delighted to congratulate the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family, and all the people of the United Kingdom on the birth of the Royal Princess,” the statement read. ”On behalf of the American people, we wish the Duke and Duchess and their son George much joy and happiness on the occasion of the arrival of the newest member of their family.”
The celebration also spread worldwide where the announcement began: on social media. #RoyalBaby trended worldwide on Twitter Saturday, while both #RoyalBaby and "Duchess of Cambridge" were top trends in the United States.
The Royal Navy tweeted a picture of sailors above the H.M.S. Lancaster, also known as the "Queen's Frigate," in a formation spelling out the word "sister."
London landmarks were set to join in the celebration: The Tower Bridge, the London Eye and the iconic fountain at Trafalgar Square are all set to be lit pink tonight. The Union Jack flying above Buckingham Palace is larger than usuall, and London's BT Tower emblazoned its screen with "It's a girl" backed in pink.
Monday will see even more official celebrations. The bells of Westminster Abbey will toll. In keeping with British tradition, two simultaneous Royal Army gun salutes will herald the new princess.
Getty Images; AP Images
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wardrobe watch
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive by Tuk Tuk as they attend a special reception hosted by the British High Commissioner Thomas Drew, at the Pakistan National Monument, during day two of their royal tour of Pakistan on October 15, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Kate wore a glittering emerald-green Jenny Packham gown with metallic heeled sandals. Prince William was equally dressed up in a dark teal traditional sherwani, a formal coatlike piece, by Pakistani brand Naushemian.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visit a school in Islamabad on October 15, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. Kate donned a periwinkle blue traditional kurta with trousers and a scarf by local designer Maheen Khan for the visit.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at the Pakistani Air Force Base Nur Khan to start their Royal Tour of Pakistan on October 14, 2019 in Islamabad, Pakistan. The Duchess wore a blue ombre shalwar kameez by Catherine Walker for her first appearance as she and Prince William departed their plane.
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Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge departs after a visit to the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. The Duchess saw some of the valuable family and parental support services which are delivered at the Centre, including those offered by the charity Family Action, of which The Queen is Patron. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Paddington Bear greets Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, at the Charities Forum Event on board the Belmond Britigh Pullman train at Paddington Station on Oct. 16, 2017, in London, England.
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Britain's Prince William, Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, to celebrate World Mental Health Day, Tuesday Oct. 10, 2017.
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To the Last Post ceremony to mark the centenary of Passchendaele, the Duchess of Cambridge re-wears the white Alexander McQueen coat-dress she wore to Princess Charlotte's christening.
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Kate leads the bridesmaids and pageboys, including her son Prince George and daughter Princess Charlotte, after her sister Pippa Middleton's wedding at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, England, May 20, 2017. Middleton married hedge fund manager James Matthews.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at The Cridge Centre for the Family on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives to embark the tall ship Pacific Grace in Victoria Harbour on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte leave from Victoria Harbour to board a sea-plane on the final day of their Royal Tour of Canada on Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend a children's party for Military families during the Royal Tour of Canada on Sept. 29, 2016 in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge are seen leaving the MacBride Museum on Sept. 28, 2016, in Whitehorse, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Mission Hill Winery on Sept. 27, 2016, in Kelowna, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Whitehorse Airport on Sept. 27, 2016, in Whitehorse, Canada.
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Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attends a Goverment of British Columbia reception at Government House on September 26, 2016 in Victoria, Canada.
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Kate Middleton, seen here with Prince William, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, wears a red-and-white Alexander McQueen dress on a visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 25, 2016.
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Shoes worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge during a visit to Vancouver, British Columbia, on Sept. 25, 2016.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends an official welcome and performance from Bella Bella First Nations community at Wawiska Community Hall on Sept. 26, 2016 in Bella Bella, Canada.
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Kate laughs with Sharon Johnston as they listen to Will speak french at the Official Welcome Ceremony for the Royal Tour at the British Columbia Legislature on Sept. 24, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, visits the "Vogue 100: A Century of Style" exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery on May 4, 2016, in London. The Duchess appears on the cover of the centenary issue in June 2016.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, departs Spencer House after attending a lunch in aid of The Anna Freud Centre on May 4, 2016, in London, England.
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In this handout photo provided by British Vogue on Sunday, May 1, 2016, the Duchess of Cambridge poses in Norfolk, England, for the magazine's centenary issue.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, attends a reception celebrating UK and Bhutanese friendship and cooperation at the Taj Hotel on April 15, 2016 in Thimphu, Bhutan. The Royal couple visited Bhutan as part of a week long visit to India and Bhutan.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits the Taj Mahal on April 16, 2016 in Agra, India.
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Kate donned a vintage-inspired jade Temperley London dress with nude pumps and a matching clutch during a meeting with Narenda Modi, the Prime Minister of India, on April 12, 2016, in New Delhi, India.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and his wife, the former Kate Middleton stand after laying a wreath on the martyrs memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India, Sunday, April 10, 2016. The royal couple began their weeklong visit to India and Bhutan, by laying a wreath at a memorial Sunday at Mumbaiu2019s iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel, where 31 victims of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks were killed.
While attending a wreath laying ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the final withdrawal from the Gallipoli Peninsula at the War Memorial Crossbrown Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (L) donned a tweed skirt and blazer by Michael Kors paired with black boots, gloves and an elegant fastener atop her head.
Kate was seen sporting this simple yet elegant red L.K. Bennett dress paired with a with a leopard DVF clutch at day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships July 8, 2015 in London, England.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stunned in a white Alexander McQueen dress coat and Jane Taylor hat at the Christening of Princess Charlotte on July 5, 2015 in King's Lynn, England.
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During the Trooping The Colour parade at Buckingham Palace, glowing new mom Kate wore a blue floral dress by Catherine Walker paired with a hat by Lock & Co. and a big smile.
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Stunning in a simple floral pattern Jenny Packham dress, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William pose for the media with their newborn daughter outside St. Mary's Hospital's on Saturday, May 2, 2015.
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In her final pubic appearance before going on maternity leave, Kate toured the Stephen Lawrence Centre in a bold pink double-breasted Mulberry coat on Friday, March 27, 2015.
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Britain's Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge meets veterans during a visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at the St. Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks, Aldershot, in England, Tuesday, March 17, 2015.
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Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge takes a tour around Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, England, Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
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Kate shows off her baby bump in a mint green Mulberry coat for the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle, near London Sunday, April 21, 2013.
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Britain's Kate the Duchess of Cambridge attends an Autumn gala evening dinner and reception in aid of Action on Addiction at L'Anima Restaurant in London, England, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2014. Kate is patron of the charity and met charity supporters during a pre-dinner reception.
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Catherine and William made a blustery visit to Calgary on the eighth day of their 12-day trip. Kate looked sweet in a primrose-colored, petal-skirted dress from one of her favorite designers, Jenny Packham.
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Celebrating her first Christmas as a royal, Duchess Kate donned a monochromatic look to the traditional Christmas Day service at Sandringham in King's Lynn, England. Kate paired a knee-length wine-colored coat with a matching Jane Corbett hat, along with black tights, black platform heels from LK Bennett, and a pair of diamond drop earrings.
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Catherine got festive when she used a Canadian maple leaf to accent a familiar dress. It's the same Reiss frock the Duchess for wore for her engagement portraits. The look was paired with a straw Anya Hindmarch fan bag, cherry red pumps and a red Lock&Co hat, as well as a maple leaf pendant on loan from the Queen to attend Canada Day celebrations.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (handbag detail) during an official visit to Bletchley Park on June 18, 2014 in Bletchley, England.
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Kate actually tends to favor commercial brands over designers: Here, the Duchess chose a Zara black and white geometric circle printed dress for the Berkshire wedding of longtime friends Sam Waley Cohen andu00a0Bella Ballin. She sported the same Ark & Co hat she wore earlier that same day to the Trooping the Colour parade.
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Duchess of Cambridge was somber in McQueen as she attends the annual Remembrance Sunday Service at the Cenotaph on Whitehall on November 9, 2014 in London, England.
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The young Duchess perfected casual in a sage green Burberry shirt tucked into cropped jeans as she boarded a plane In Yellowknife, Canada on day six of the tour. Kate paired the look with a thick brown leather belt and Sebago deck shoes in taupe.
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The Duchess of Cambridge made her first public appearance since giving birth when she stepped out with her husband Prince William to attend the Tusk Conservation Awards in London, wearing a full-length silvery sequined gown.
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Kate attended a special service at Westminster Abbey with other senior member of the royal family, held in honor of the 60th anniversary of The Queenu2019s Coronation. For the event, pregnant Kate wore a peachy pink lace dress and matching coat by designer Jenny Packham.
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Catherine arrives at St Andrew's Cathedral on April 20 for a Easter Sunday Service. The Duchess stuns in an Alexander McQueen ivory coat and a gray Jane Taylor fascinator.
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Switching to something more formal for the evening celebrations, Kate went for a long-sleeved purple Issa jersey dress that gathers at the waist. Again, she added some Canada spirit by donning the Queen's silver maple leaf broach.
Attending a ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War, Britain's Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the Cointe Inter-allied Memorial, Liege, Belgium, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War, Monday Aug. 4, 2014.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's handbag seen as she visits an M-PACT Plus Counselling Programme at Blessed Sacrament School on July 1, 2014 in London, England.
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Kate chose a dove gray Katherine Hooker dress in crepe silk satin and a Philip Treacy fascinator for the Order of the Garter Service at Windsor Castle.
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Pregnant Kate, seen in a peachy coral pink outfit, visits Naomi House on April 29 near Winchester, England.
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge leaves the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service held at St Paul's Cathedral on Dec. 14, 2017 in London, England. The Royal Family and Prime Minister will join survivors of the Grenfell Tower at the memorial at St Paul's Cathedral for the six-month anniversary which killed 71 people. About 1,500 people are expected to attend the multi-faith service.
The baby's gender had remained a mystery, even to the Duke and Duchess, according to royal officials. That mystery — and debate over the baby's name — fueled avid speculation among media and bookmakers. (Florence was a among the early favorites, but Charlotte and Alice have made a surge among the betting public.) The palace has not yet announced the newborn princess's name.
The new baby is fourth in line to the throne, after her older brother, and will bear the title of Princess of Cambridge. The newborn's older brother was born on July 22, 2013.
