More than 12 hours after Kate Middleton was admitted to hospital in the 'early stages of labour' on Monday morning, royal aides revealed a change of plan in the way that the royal baby will be announced.
Instead of the news being declared on a traditional easel at Buckingham Palace, a press release will be sent out to news outlets.
Palace spokespeople have said that the easel will still be erected but an email with the news will be delivered first. The decision was made in order to broadcast the news as 'quickly and simply as possible'.
The Buckingham Palace bulletin was only expected to state the baby's weight, sex and time of birth. A press release from Kensington Palace could contain a little more information such as the mother and baby's progress.
In any case, Palace sources have made it clear that the birth of the future King or Queen will not be made public until the Queen, senior members of the royal family and the Middleton family have been informed.
There has been no news since the Duchess of Cambridge, 31, was admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour on Monday morning.
Excitement continues to build as the nation prepares to welcome the third in line to the throne with scores of well-wishers gathering at Buckingham Palace and even more action in the press pens outside the Lindo Wing.
Watch the action from outside the Lindo Wing on our live stream
