GettyKate Middleton has given birth to her third baby, a boy – but it’s her second child Charlotte who has made history in the process.
The Duchess of Cambridge went into labour today (April 23) and gave birth to a baby boy.
Kate and Prince William hadn’t disclosed whether they were having a boy or girl before the birth was announced.
You can watch an interview with Prince William about fatherhood here:
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Two-year-old Charlotte is the first member of the royal family not to lose her spot in line to the throne despite another male heir being born, writes the Evening Standard.
The reason is down to the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which was passed when the Duchess was pregnant with Prince George.
The act states succession to the throne is to be based wholly on birth order, and not gender.
Charlotte’s grandad, Prince Charles, is currently first in line to the throne, and is followed by Prince William and then Prince George.
Prince Harry now moves down to sixth in line due to the new arrival who bumps him from the number five spot.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.
The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018
Kate gave birth at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London, which is known for its extreme privacy, and where George and Charlotte were also born.
Kensington Palace tweeted the news:
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 1101hrs.
The baby weighs 8lbs 7oz.
The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.
The news came just hours after Kensington Palace announced Kate had entered the early stages of labour.
She has been on maternity leave since March 22 with her last royal visit being to a charity lunch in London.
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.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 23, 2018
As with her two previous pregnancies, Kate experienced hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) during the first few months which is an extreme form of morning sickness.
Affecting roughly two per cent of all expecting mothers, symptoms include constant nausea, severe vomiting and weight loss.
The condition meant Kate had to spend three days in hospital while pregnant with George but thankfully was well enough to avoid it during her second and third pregnancies.
The Duchess was subjected to vile online abuse when she made her first public appearance following the announcement of her third pregnancy.
Despite suffering from HG, Kate attended a reception at Buckingham Palace for World Mental Health Day (October 10) with photos of the event appearing on the Kensington Palace official Instagram account.
‘Lady99alta’ criticised Kate’s weight and health writing:
There is no such thing as morning sickness. HG is caused by severe malnutrition and vitamin deficiency. Look it up in Wikipedia.
When Catherine admits publicly she is an anorexic and has a severe eating disorder only then I will take her mental health campaign seriously.
She is more 30 lbs underweight and is well known for not eating and exercising for hours on end.
It is physically impossible to be as emaciated and malnourished as she is and grow a healthy baby. It doesn’t happen.
Get a grip.
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