Royal baby named

UPDATE / July 25: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge have named their new child George Alexander Louis.

George was the odds-on favoute with several bookies, including Ladbrokes which offered 2/1 odds.

There have already been six British monarchs called George.

The last was the Queen's father, George VI. 

A Palace spokesman says George, at 3.8kg, was the heaviest royal baby on record.

Kate leaves hospital; first baby photos

UPDATE / July 24: Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge left St Mary's Hospital this morning, offering the world the first glimpse of the Prince of Cambridge in the process.

The couple emerged with Kate Middleton holding the baby in a white shawl. The Duchess then handed the newborn to her husband with what The Guardian called "touching awkwardness".

In brief comments to media on the steps of the hospital, Prince William said "We're still working on a name."

He added in reference to his one-day-old son's hair, "He's got way more than me."

The infant also has "A good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure," Prince William said.

 "He's a big boy. He's quite heavy."

The couple re-entered the hospital then re-emerged carrying the Prince of Cambridge in a car seat. Prince William mouthed "Phew" as he managed to clip the car seat into their vehicle first try.

They departed in a Range Rover with Prince William driving; a security guard in the front seat, and the Duchess in the back with the baby.

Still from BBC coverage. In a 21st century touch, Prince William said he had already changed his first nappy.

Crowds outside the hospital as the couple emerge (Instagram/ollydenton). "You can all go back to normal now" Prince William told the crowd as the couple left. 

One of hundreds of amateur pics posted to social media (Instagram/terriromeo).

Meanwhile there has been bad news for Game of Thrones fans. BetFair has lengthened the baby-name odds for Joffrey from 500 to one to 1000 to one.

Ladbrokes' lead contenders are George (2/1) and James (4/1).

Kate has a boy

UPDATE / July 23: Kate Middleton has given birth to a boy, weighing eight pounds and six ounces (3.8kg).

A Palace spokesman says mother and baby are doing well.

The third-in-line to the throne was born at 4.24pm local time (5.24am NZ time).

The new royal baby will be the Queen's third great-grandchild, and will become the UK's 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if he follows reigns by the Prince of Wales and Prince William.

As per tradition, a document with details of the baby's birth has been placed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace. A name has yet to be announced for the child (see Ladbrokes odds end of story).

His title will be the Prince of Cambridge.

Kensington Palace statement:

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4.24pm.

The baby weighs 8lbs 6oz.

The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news.

Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight.

While crowds outside the hospital and Buckingham Palace have offered good wishes, the mood has not been universally upbeat around the Commonwealth.

Mauricio Olmedo Perez, a producer with TVNZ's Seven Sharp, tweeted:

EARLIER / July 22: Kate Middleton has been admitted to the hospital to give birth, according to a palace spokesman.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London 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," the palace said in a statement.

The Duchess (31) was admitted just before 6am (5pm Monday night NZ time).

Even the left wing media has been sufficiently enamoured to live-blog the birth - albeit with The Guardian feeling moved to bring up the business about the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha feeling obliged to change its German surname to Windsor in 1917.

Regardless of the baby's gender, Prince William and Kate Middleton's firstborn will be third in line to the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William - and displacing Prince Harry to fourth and the Duke of York to fifth.

The couple have chosen to not know the sex of the baby ahead of the birth, according to royal sources.

The British Parliament is changing a 300-year-old law so that the baby will be the heir to the throne, whether it's a boy or girl. Under plans to change the rules of succession, if the baby is a girl, she will make history as the first girl to keep her place in line even if she later has a brother. The NZ Parliament's Royal Succession Bill, which earlier this month passed its first reading, offers support for the mesure from the colonies.

Nearly 30 NZ landmarks will be lit up pink or blue - depending on its sex - to mark the birth of the Royal baby in the days ahead. They include Sky Tower and The Cloud in Auckland, Wellington's Majestic Centre lights, Christchurch Airport, and the corrugated iron dog in Tirau.

Betting on a name
As of early Tuesday morning NZ time, James (6/1), George (10/1) and Henry (10/1) were the boys names with the best odds for those betting at Ladbrokes. (For Game of Thrones fans, BetFair is offering Joffrey at 500/1.)

The odds-on girls names are Alexandra (6/4), Victoria (6/1), Charlotte (6/1), and Elizabeth (10/1) and Diana (10/1).