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| Royal fans endure a day's wait in the heat to glimpse new arrival | Royal fans endure a day's wait in the heat to glimpse new arrival |
| (less than a minute earlier) | |
| The cheers, hesitant at first but soon full-throated, erupted as dusk fell on a packed street outside St Mary's hospital, Paddington, at 8.31pm. | The cheers, hesitant at first but soon full-throated, erupted as dusk fell on a packed street outside St Mary's hospital, Paddington, at 8.31pm. |
| Initial disbelief that the long-awaited news was finally here evaporated almost instantaneously among the crowd, many of whom turned to their mobile phones for confirmation. | Initial disbelief that the long-awaited news was finally here evaporated almost instantaneously among the crowd, many of whom turned to their mobile phones for confirmation. |
| Seconds later, the cry went up and spread among the well-wishers: "It's a boy! It's a boy!" | Seconds later, the cry went up and spread among the well-wishers: "It's a boy! It's a boy!" |
| Within 30 minutes details of the birth had been posted on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace. A police sergeant strained to make himself heard above a crowd that had grown from the hundreds to the thousands by 10pm, appealing in vain through a loudhailer: "Come back tomorrow. It's here for 24 hours." | Within 30 minutes details of the birth had been posted on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace. A police sergeant strained to make himself heard above a crowd that had grown from the hundreds to the thousands by 10pm, appealing in vain through a loudhailer: "Come back tomorrow. It's here for 24 hours." |
| But the numbers trickling down the Mall and from nearby Green Park showed no sign of stopping. At the palace railings, the crowd was 30 deep where hands held aloft camera phones in a bid to photograph the notice. | But the numbers trickling down the Mall and from nearby Green Park showed no sign of stopping. At the palace railings, the crowd was 30 deep where hands held aloft camera phones in a bid to photograph the notice. |
| Typical of the Britons in the crowd was dentist Branav Kanaga who, along with his father, mother and sister, had driven down from Stanmore in north-west London to "soak up the history". | Typical of the Britons in the crowd was dentist Branav Kanaga who, along with his father, mother and sister, had driven down from Stanmore in north-west London to "soak up the history". |
| "I wouldn't say I'm a staunch royalist but we came were here for the Queen's jubilee as well," said the 25-year-old. "It's just a lovely occasion and since we could do it we thought 'Why not?'" | "I wouldn't say I'm a staunch royalist but we came were here for the Queen's jubilee as well," said the 25-year-old. "It's just a lovely occasion and since we could do it we thought 'Why not?'" |
| Others had come clutching children, glasses of wine and Union flags – by then going for £2 a pop from hawkers in a crowd that was at least 50% visitors from abroad. | Others had come clutching children, glasses of wine and Union flags – by then going for £2 a pop from hawkers in a crowd that was at least 50% visitors from abroad. |
| "I just heard the choppers from my hotel room in Bloomsbury and walked over," said George Boudreau, history professor from Penn State University. | "I just heard the choppers from my hotel room in Bloomsbury and walked over," said George Boudreau, history professor from Penn State University. |
| "In an American crowd someone would have been killed by now, but it just seems to be the case that people here are moving around more politely." | "In an American crowd someone would have been killed by now, but it just seems to be the case that people here are moving around more politely." |
| New Yorker Sharon Surloff was meanwhile delighted with her grainy iPhone picture of the royal bulletin, snapped after she and her niece and mother had squeezed through the melee. | New Yorker Sharon Surloff was meanwhile delighted with her grainy iPhone picture of the royal bulletin, snapped after she and her niece and mother had squeezed through the melee. |
| "The police were just saying to everyone: 'OK … 20 seconds and then the next person'. It's just great to be here though. We arrived this morning at 9am so it has all worked out beautifully." | "The police were just saying to everyone: 'OK … 20 seconds and then the next person'. It's just great to be here though. We arrived this morning at 9am so it has all worked out beautifully." |
| Nearby, two police officers with weary smiles were telling a man to get out of the fountains in front of the palace as a colleague again took to his loudspeaker, this time intoning deadpan: "Can you all just move please. To the left or the right." | Nearby, two police officers with weary smiles were telling a man to get out of the fountains in front of the palace as a colleague again took to his loudspeaker, this time intoning deadpan: "Can you all just move please. To the left or the right." |
| "We should have just projected it up on to the palace," he sighed to one group after putting the loudhailer down in defeat. | "We should have just projected it up on to the palace," he sighed to one group after putting the loudhailer down in defeat. |
| Back at St Mary's, few greeted the news with more joy and excitement than Maria Scott, an ardent royalist from Newcastle who had been camped opposite the Lindo wing for days. "I'm so, so happy!" she shouted, struggling to make herself heard above the celebrations. To her the baby's gender was of no importance. "As long as he's healthy and Catherine's all right, that's the main thing." | Back at St Mary's, few greeted the news with more joy and excitement than Maria Scott, an ardent royalist from Newcastle who had been camped opposite the Lindo wing for days. "I'm so, so happy!" she shouted, struggling to make herself heard above the celebrations. To her the baby's gender was of no importance. "As long as he's healthy and Catherine's all right, that's the main thing." |
| Her fellow royal fans, who waved union flags and a teddy bear in an RAF flight suit could scarcely contain their emotions. | Her fellow royal fans, who waved union flags and a teddy bear in an RAF flight suit could scarcely contain their emotions. |
| "Diana would have been so happy," cried one. "She's a grandma!" | "Diana would have been so happy," cried one. "She's a grandma!" |
| Despite the arrival of the third in line to the throne, Scott said she would not abandon her vigil until the new family had left the hospital. "It's been worth the wait and I'll stay even if it's two days," she said. | Despite the arrival of the third in line to the throne, Scott said she would not abandon her vigil until the new family had left the hospital. "It's been worth the wait and I'll stay even if it's two days," she said. |
| As red-white-and-blue flags shook madly in the twilight, those gathered at the barriers paused to absorb the news. | As red-white-and-blue flags shook madly in the twilight, those gathered at the barriers paused to absorb the news. |
| "I feel very excited," said Sara Malo, from Seville. We have a monarchy in Spain but it's different. There's no comparison." Her mother agreed: "You care more for your royal family and you follow everything they do." | "I feel very excited," said Sara Malo, from Seville. We have a monarchy in Spain but it's different. There's no comparison." Her mother agreed: "You care more for your royal family and you follow everything they do." |
| Thomas Walker, on holiday from Manchester, was pleased to have found himself booked into a hotel so close to St Mary's. "I've been coming back and forth a few times today," he said, as a bell rang out and the cheers intensified. "I'm over the moon. I love the royal family; I'm English, that's why." | Thomas Walker, on holiday from Manchester, was pleased to have found himself booked into a hotel so close to St Mary's. "I've been coming back and forth a few times today," he said, as a bell rang out and the cheers intensified. "I'm over the moon. I love the royal family; I'm English, that's why." |
| Sharon McEwen, from Jamaica, said that she had spent the past four days "coming and going" to St Mary's. "I'm very happy," she said before breaking into another verse of "Celebration" . | Sharon McEwen, from Jamaica, said that she had spent the past four days "coming and going" to St Mary's. "I'm very happy," she said before breaking into another verse of "Celebration" . |
| Jean Foley was waving an Irish tricolour in celebration of the royal birth. She said that was working as a manager at St Mary's in 1984 when Princess Diana gave birth to William. | Jean Foley was waving an Irish tricolour in celebration of the royal birth. She said that was working as a manager at St Mary's in 1984 when Princess Diana gave birth to William. |
| "I have been following things very closely so I came down here at 9am. When William was born, I wasn't able to enjoy it properly. I'm delighted although I thought it would be a girl." | "I have been following things very closely so I came down here at 9am. When William was born, I wasn't able to enjoy it properly. I'm delighted although I thought it would be a girl." |
| She said that there were many Irish royalists. "My mother in Kerry and my mother-in-law in Cork have been following this as closely as me in London," she said. | She said that there were many Irish royalists. "My mother in Kerry and my mother-in-law in Cork have been following this as closely as me in London," she said. |
| The announcement followed a lengthy vigil on what had been the warmest day in Britain for seven years, for both well-wishers and the world's media. | The announcement followed a lengthy vigil on what had been the warmest day in Britain for seven years, for both well-wishers and the world's media. |
| Ten scorching hours after Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to St Mary's, Scott and her daughter, Amy Thompson, were on a bench granting what was, by their reckoning, interview number 51 of the day, talking to journalists from the UK, Spain, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the US. | Ten scorching hours after Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to St Mary's, Scott and her daughter, Amy Thompson, were on a bench granting what was, by their reckoning, interview number 51 of the day, talking to journalists from the UK, Spain, Germany, Japan, Sweden and the US. |
| If the pair from Newcastle were taking the long wait in their stride, it was more than could be said for the media scrum that buzzed impatiently opposite the private Lindo wing where the duchess was giving birth. | If the pair from Newcastle were taking the long wait in their stride, it was more than could be said for the media scrum that buzzed impatiently opposite the private Lindo wing where the duchess was giving birth. |
| Legions of reporters, photographers, camera crews and producers had descended on St Mary's in search of a story that was proving slow in coming. | Legions of reporters, photographers, camera crews and producers had descended on St Mary's in search of a story that was proving slow in coming. |
| At 8.15am – 45 minutes after the palace announcement of the duchess's admission – the narrow side street beside the hospital could still be negotiated with relative ease. | At 8.15am – 45 minutes after the palace announcement of the duchess's admission – the narrow side street beside the hospital could still be negotiated with relative ease. |
| But as the news spread the arrivals came in waves. First the photographers, ascending their ladders one more time to check the view for when the newly expanded family eventually leaves for home. Then the TV anchors, breathlessly relaying the dearth of news, live and on site, in dozens of different languages. | But as the news spread the arrivals came in waves. First the photographers, ascending their ladders one more time to check the view for when the newly expanded family eventually leaves for home. Then the TV anchors, breathlessly relaying the dearth of news, live and on site, in dozens of different languages. |
| Next were the tourists, who had rolled up to gawp at the media. Among the early arrivals were the Zuydenwyk family from The Hague; John and Monique and their teenage daughters Anou and Milou. | Next were the tourists, who had rolled up to gawp at the media. Among the early arrivals were the Zuydenwyk family from The Hague; John and Monique and their teenage daughters Anou and Milou. |
| "We walked past it yesterday and when we saw the news this morning at our hotel we decided to come back," said 16-year-old Anou. "It's pretty amazing – I've never seen so many TV crews or cameras. We've been here two hours already." | "We walked past it yesterday and when we saw the news this morning at our hotel we decided to come back," said 16-year-old Anou. "It's pretty amazing – I've never seen so many TV crews or cameras. We've been here two hours already." |
| Such a fuss was, they added, not unknown to them after the Dutch royal accession in spring which saw King Willem-Alexander succeed his abdicating mother, Beatrix. "There was a lot of TV coverage for that," said Anou, adding: "But at least something was happening." | Such a fuss was, they added, not unknown to them after the Dutch royal accession in spring which saw King Willem-Alexander succeed his abdicating mother, Beatrix. "There was a lot of TV coverage for that," said Anou, adding: "But at least something was happening." |
| As the sun became intense and the photographers dashed to Paddington station for new sunscreen supplies, those remaining faced the common media paradox of a fact-hungry world; 24-hour coverage and no actual news. | As the sun became intense and the photographers dashed to Paddington station for new sunscreen supplies, those remaining faced the common media paradox of a fact-hungry world; 24-hour coverage and no actual news. |
| Celia Whelan, a 30-year-old anaesthetist, said she had been watching the media huddle grow over the weeks from a window above. "You turn on the TV and see someone doing a piece to camera, and you can look out of the window to see them. It's fascinating for me because you never usually get to see these things but it seems strange. I'm not a royalist and you've got to say, while I wish them all the best, there's more important things going on." | Celia Whelan, a 30-year-old anaesthetist, said she had been watching the media huddle grow over the weeks from a window above. "You turn on the TV and see someone doing a piece to camera, and you can look out of the window to see them. It's fascinating for me because you never usually get to see these things but it seems strange. I'm not a royalist and you've got to say, while I wish them all the best, there's more important things going on." |
| Seemingly thinking along the same lines was a neatly dressed, eloquent man with a megaphone who popped by to harangue the media and spectators for needing to believe in fairy tales. This could be explored through psychotherapy, he explained patiently, if loudly. | Seemingly thinking along the same lines was a neatly dressed, eloquent man with a megaphone who popped by to harangue the media and spectators for needing to believe in fairy tales. This could be explored through psychotherapy, he explained patiently, if loudly. |
| The duchess's former neighbours in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury may have been far from the action in London, but they did not escape the madness. "Oh we are very excited," John Haley, the landlord of the Boot Inn – known to television audiences worldwide as "Kate and William's favourite pub" – snapped, his renowned good humour and endless friendly words for the media finally cracking. | The duchess's former neighbours in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury may have been far from the action in London, but they did not escape the madness. "Oh we are very excited," John Haley, the landlord of the Boot Inn – known to television audiences worldwide as "Kate and William's favourite pub" – snapped, his renowned good humour and endless friendly words for the media finally cracking. |
| "Yes I am John Haley, for my sins, and today I wish I wasn't," he told yet another journalist, before picking up a shrilling phone and telling Australia this really wasn't a good time. | "Yes I am John Haley, for my sins, and today I wish I wasn't," he told yet another journalist, before picking up a shrilling phone and telling Australia this really wasn't a good time. |
| He has known the family for years, and the couple were regular diners in the backroom restaurant, but he escaped the worst of the last major media invasion of the pub because he was actually invited to the royal wedding. | He has known the family for years, and the couple were regular diners in the backroom restaurant, but he escaped the worst of the last major media invasion of the pub because he was actually invited to the royal wedding. |
| His car park held two Jaguars and three outside broadcast vans, and between television interviews he was the only one behind the bar. "Hope it does happen this evening," Haley said, arranging a ring-round to try to draft in extra staff. | His car park held two Jaguars and three outside broadcast vans, and between television interviews he was the only one behind the bar. "Hope it does happen this evening," Haley said, arranging a ring-round to try to draft in extra staff. |
| "Let's get it over with." | "Let's get it over with." |
| When the baby finally did arrive, more excited than most outside the hospital was three-year-old Frankie Moreno from west London, who sat with his mum swaddled in a union flag and with a golden paper crown on his head. "I want to see the baby!" he told his mum, Carlene. "I want to see the baby!" | When the baby finally did arrive, more excited than most outside the hospital was three-year-old Frankie Moreno from west London, who sat with his mum swaddled in a union flag and with a golden paper crown on his head. "I want to see the baby!" he told his mum, Carlene. "I want to see the baby!" |
| A passing policeman paused to help out. "I'm sure you do," he told the toddler. "A lot of people do." | A passing policeman paused to help out. "I'm sure you do," he told the toddler. "A lot of people do." |
| Carlene, like her son and her mother, was born at St Mary's, so the hospital means a lot to her – as did the birth of the duke and duchess's first child. | Carlene, like her son and her mother, was born at St Mary's, so the hospital means a lot to her – as did the birth of the duke and duchess's first child. |
| "I'm so happy," she said. "Babies bring such joy don't they? But I'm a royalist anyway." | "I'm so happy," she said. "Babies bring such joy don't they? But I'm a royalist anyway." |
| As is her great aunt, who, at the age of 84, had been camped outside the Lindo wing since 2pm despite the heat. | As is her great aunt, who, at the age of 84, had been camped outside the Lindo wing since 2pm despite the heat. |
| Love of the royal family appears not to skip generations in their Maida Vale household. Despite the kindly policeman's intervention, Frankie would not be dissuaded. "Mummy, I want I see the baby," he said. To which she wisely replied: "He's not ready. When he's dressed." | Love of the royal family appears not to skip generations in their Maida Vale household. Despite the kindly policeman's intervention, Frankie would not be dissuaded. "Mummy, I want I see the baby," he said. To which she wisely replied: "He's not ready. When he's dressed." |
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