Police are standing guard outside the Lindo Wing after the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on Saturday morning.
Kensington Palace announced the news that the nation had been waiting for at 7.00am via Twitter.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPolice guards outside the Lindo Wing door
"The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 06.00hrs to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and is 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 confirmed that labour is "progressing as normal".
After Kate was inside, the police guards took up their positions, where they will remain until she and Prince William leave the hospital with their new arrival.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 06.00hrs on Saturday
The royal baby wait has been in overdrive for days with the news that Kate had passed her anticipated due date of "mid-to-late April". While the world awaited Kate's arrival at St Mary's Hospital, the Duchess continued to go about her normal day-to-day activities, and joined her husband Prince William to take Prince George for swimming lessons at Buckingham Palace.
William has already been on paternity leave for over a week, having completing initial training for his job as an East Anglian air ambulance pilot as of 21 April. He and his pregnant wife have been residing at their home in Kensington Palace for almost two weeks, following Kate's visit to her parents Carole and Michael at their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
The Middletons have been in a state of readiness since the weekend with Pippa and James back from trips abroad. Meanwhile, there is excitement too among the Windsors. On Wednesday, Prince Charles revealed that he and Camilla were hoping for a granddaughter.
