AP
Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate.
Prince William's wife, Kate, is in the early stages of labor in a central London hospital, Kensington Palace officials said today.
It is a historic moment for the British monarchy — the couple's first child will become third in line for the British throne, after Prince Charles and William, and should eventually become king or queen.
William and Kate entered St. Mary's Hospital in central London through a side door early Monday morning, avoiding assembled media members. Palace officials confirmed her arrival about 90 minutes later.
Kate — also known as the Duchess of Cambridge — travelled by car to St. Mary's Hospital in central London with Prince William. She's expected to give birth in the Lingo Wing, a private section of the hospita where Princess Diana gave birth to William and his younger brother, Prince Harry.
Kate and William, who spent the weekend at Kensington Palace, traveled to the hospital without a police escort just before 6 a.m., their spokesman said.
He added that "Things are progressing as normal."
She will be looked after by a top-notch medical team led by royal gynecologist Dr. Marcus Setchell.
Press crews have been camped outside the hospital for days in anticipation of the birth.
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Members of the media gather outside of St. Mary's Hospital.
The baby will be third in line for the British throne, and should eventually succeed grandfather Charles and father William as king or queen of Britain and 15 other countries including Canada and Australia.
But little else is known about the eagerly awaited royal baby, from how it will arrive to its gender or its name.
It is not clear if Kate will have a natural birth or deliver by a planned cesarean section.
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Royal watchers must wait to be told of the baby's arrival from the palace, which is planning to reveal the news through a mixture of tradition and social media.
Palace officials have said that the first hint will come when a royal aide emerges from the hospital with a signed bulletin carrying the Buckingham Palace letterhead. The bulletin will be given to an official who will be driven to Buckingham Palace, where it will be posted on an easel in public view in front of the building.
At the same time the bulletin is posted, there will be an official announcement on Twitter and the media will be formally notified. The document will give the baby's gender, weight and time of birth.
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A member of medical staff walks by as police stand guard at the doors of the hospital's Lindo Wing, where Kate is expected to give birth.
It could be some time before the baby's name is made public. When William was born, a week passed before his name was announced. Charles's name remained a mystery for an entire month.
But it is the baby's gender that is of particular interest because the prospect of Kate's pregnancy prompted a change to laws of succession to ensure a daughter would not be passed over for the crown by a younger brother. Boy or girl, the child will be third in line to the throne and the prospective future monarch.
PHOTOS: WILLIAM AND KATE THROUGH THE YEARS
The birth of a new heir to the throne has been breathlessly anticipated since William and Kate wed on April 29, 2011, in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
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William and Kate wed in 2011.
When news of a royal pregnancy was announced, there was rejoicing in many households in Britain and throughout the world.
Despite a rough start to the pregnancy, when she was hospitalized for acute morning sickness, the 31-year-old Kate made a number of public appearances that were halted only near the end of her term.
Since the duchess has cut back on her royal duties, media outlets have been clamoring for position outside of the hospital in anticipation of the birth, jockeying to secure the best vantage point for filming William and Kate emerging, babe in arms.
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Members of the public snap photos outside of St. Mary's Hospital.
Officials have said that William plans to take two weeks' paternity leave and then return to his military duties as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot in Wales.
His tour of duty is scheduled to wrap up around September, and he and Kate are expected to move from their isolated cottage on the island of Anglesey off the coast of Wales to Kensington Palace in central London.
AP
Prince Charles and Princess Diana were photographed outside of St. Mary's Hospital with their newborn son William in 1982.
But major refurbishment works at the palace likely won't be finished until at least a month or two after the infant is born — meaning that William and Kate will most likely have to make do with their current temporary home in London, a two-bedroom property at the palace.
Come autumn, however, the family will be able to move into their permanent London home, Apartment 1a at Kensington Palace — a four-story house with a nursery, 20 rooms and a private garden.
With AP and The Sun
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