[BREAKING] Royal baby on the way, Kate Middleton's labor 'progressing normally'
By KATE STANTON, UPI.com
1 of 4 | Magnets spelling Boy or Girl at the "Cool Britannia", Piccadilly ahead of the birth of the first baby of The Duke and Duchess Of Cambridge in London on July 17, 2013. UPI/ Rune Hellestad | License Photo
Clarence House, Prince Charles' private office, announced early Monday morning that the duchess of Cambridge was in the beginning stages of labor at the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted 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.
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— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) July 22, 2013According to BBC News, we're unlikely to get any more official information until royal baby's official birth announcement.
Witnesses saw royal vehicles at a hospital back entrance at about 6 a.m. local time Monday.
The Daily Mail has a live feed from the front entrance to the Lindo Wing, where a royal aide is expected make the birth announcement.
UPDATE: 5:51 a.m. E.T.
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CNN's Max Foster has David Cameron's first comment on the news of Kate's labor.
"Best wishes, everybody hoping for the best," Cameron said.
UPDATE: 5:21 a.m. E.T.
Kim Hjelmgaard, of USA Today, says activity outside the Lindo Wing has "shifted up a gear," as reporters and royal watchers rush to cover the news. St. Mary's security presence has also increased:
A rep for William and Kate has told US Weekly and The Guardian that Kate's labor wasn't induced and is "progressing as normal."
Royal watchers have been camped outside St. Mary's hospital for weeks in anticipation of Middleton's arrival. With temperatures soaring into the upper 80s, many wondered whether the duchess had chosen to give birth outside London, perhaps near her parents home in Bucklebury, until the royal couple returned to the capital city's Kensington Palace.
The Sun said Monday that Marcus Setchell, Queen Elizabeth's former gynecologist, will lead Kate's medical team. The queen's current gynecologist, Alan Farthing, will assist him.
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After a royal aide receives news of the birth at the Lindo Wing's entrance, he or she will head to Buckingham Palace, where the official birth announcement will appear on an easel outside the palace gates.
The Guardian said Monday that the duke and duchess still don't know the baby's gender, though its official royal title will be HRH Prince or Princess of Cambridge.
Boy or girl, the little royal will be Britain's third in line to the throne.
