Royal baby is born: It's a boy!

New Idea is thrilled to report that Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, have welcomed their first child!

The Palace confirmed Duchess Kate has delivered a healthy baby boy.

Weighing in at 8lbs and 6oz, the Prince of Cambridge came into the world at 4:24pm on Monday 22nd of July.

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Palace sources said the couple chose to delay the public announcement of the birth to allow them to spend 'quality time' together.

UPDATE 9:36pm

The world was thrilled and relieved to learn the Great Kate Wait was finally over after Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, gave birth this week.

However, it seems there is still a little bit of waiting to go.

After rumours swirled that Prince William and Catherine would depart St Mary's hospital and reveal the first glimpse of their new baby boy around lunchtime London time (7pm-9pm AEST), the Palace has now released a statement detailing when we can expect the royal family debut.

The statement released this evening read:

From the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge: 'We would like to thank the staff at the Lindo Wing and the whole hospital for the tremendous care the three of us have received. We know it has been a very busy period for the hospital and we would like to thank everyone - staff, patients and visitors - for their understanding during this time.'

Duchess Kate and Wills announce their pregnancy in December 2012. Source: Getty

The statement continued to assure the press that "mother, son and father are all doing well this morning".

Easing anticipation of exactly when we can expect the proud new parents and their little one, details of the departure stated the family will emerge anytime between 3am and 4pm AEST.

There has been no news on the new Prince of Cambridge's name.

Despite the delay in seeing the royal bub, fans can rest assured the new royal family are happy and well.

"We could not be happier," first-time father Prince William said shortly after the royal baby news was released to the public.

And neither could first-time granddad, Prince Charles!

The Prince of Wales is 'overjoyed' by the news:

"Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild," he said.

"It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy.

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"Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone’s life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."

Will and Kate's first child together, the little royal's official title is Prince of Cambridge, although the name has not yet been announced.

According to royal sources, Prince William personally phoned his grandmother the Queen, Prince Charles, brother Harry and Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton to alert them of the happy news.

But it wasn't just close royal family that was phoned!

A pizza delivery man was spotted getting out of a car outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital, carrying two pizza boxes and a brown paper bag.

The pizzas - which came from Zizzi's pizza restaurant in Paddington - are assumed to have fed the excited royal family awaiting the arrival of their new heir, having waited over 10 hours while Duchess Kate progressed through her labour.

Instead of breaking the news by placing the initial announcement on the easel outside Buckingham palace, Clarence House confirmed the news today via press release which read:

"Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24pm.

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"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news."

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

Prince William spent the night with his wife at the hospital and it is thought they could leave the hospital today, providing an official opportunity for the world to see the baby Prince of Cambridge for the first time.

Royal Baby Mania outside the Lindo Wing! Source: Getty

Governor-General Quentin Bryce has released a statement congratulating the royal couple on behalf of Australia:

"On behalf of all Australians, I send heartfelt congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on this joyful occasion.

"The birth of a baby is an experience to celebrate and cherish.

"We wish the new parents every happiness and send warm greetings of welcome to the little Prince."

The official birth notice outside the Palace. Source: Getty

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd commented on the royal birth, calling the event a 'great joy'.

"I think all Australians at the bottom of their hearts wish the royal bub all the best and certainly wish the new parents all the best as well," the Prime Minister said.

"This is a day of great joy.

"To Prince Charles and Camilla, they have the delight of being grandparents. All that I can say is, this is probably one of the best experiences of your life and I’m sure they’re going to have a wonderful time with the royal baby.

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"To Her Majesty The Queen and to the Duke of Edinburgh, the special delight of a great-grandchild.

"So on behalf of all Australians, we wish the family all the best at this wonderful time of celebration."

Prime Minister Rudd also announced that the Australian Government will be donating $10,000 to Sydney's Taronga Zoo in honour of the royal baby birth.

The generous donation has been given to a research program to help save the endangered Australian native animal, the Bilby.

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The intended Bilby enclosure will be named after the prince (once Will and Kate decide on a name!), with Prince William, Duchess Kate and new bub being able to visit for free.

Keeping with an Australian theme, Prime Minister Rudd has also given the new royal couple a copy of well-known Aussie kids book Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by much-loved Aussie author Mem Fox.

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Leader of the opposition Tony Abbott also took time to congratulate the royal couple, releasing a statement on his website:

"Margie and I join all Australians in extending to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge congratulations and best wishes on the birth of their son.

"This would be the happiest day in their lives and all Australians share their joy.

"While there will come a time to contemplate the constitutional duties that await the young Prince, today we simply welcome a baby boy into the world and share the joy of this young family.

"I am sure that over the course of his life, the Prince will, like the rest of his family, develop a deep affection for our country, as we already have for him."

FLASHBACK: Princess Diana and Prince Charles hold baby Prince William 30 years ago in 1983 Source: Getty

The official birth notice, which has been placed on the easel outside the Palace, was signed by Marcus Setchell, the Queen's former gynaecologist who led Duchess Kate's royal medical team.

Royal sources report Kate's labour lasted for approximately 14 hours, two hours less than Princess Diana's first labour with Prince William.

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The new royal baby, the Prince of Cambridge, will be the 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if, as expected, he follows reigns by the Prince of Wales then Prince William.

Duchess Kate entered the early stages of labour before 7am (England time) on Monday 22nd July, confirmed by Clarence House on Twitter shortly after a London photographer announced he spotted the Duchess entering the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital.

The tweet from photographer Jesal Parshotam that sent Twitter into a tail spin:

"@royaltydaily we saw the convoy and the security. She is in. Hopefully everything is smooth, and the pregnancy goes well #RoyalBaby"

Duchess Kate's last public appearance before the birth of the royal bub! Source: Getty

The happy news follows an eventful pregnancy for the Duchess, who announced her pregnancy news back in December last year after she was admitted to hospital for severe morning sickness, a condition called hyperemesis gravidarum.

Since then, the Palace has been in mission mode preparing for the birth of the first Prince or Princess of Cambridge, who is third in line for the throne.

However, not all the royals have been patient.

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While the Prince/Princess of Cambridge's step-grandmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, delicately expressed she was 'very excited' and 'immensely looking forward to it', great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II did not beat around the bush:

"I'd very much like it to arrive - I'm going on holiday!" she told a young fan when asked if she'd prefer a royal boy or a girl.

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Duchess Kate is said to be doing well after giving birth, and will be out of hospital in approximately one day.

For rolling updates on the royal baby, stay tuned to our Facebook page and twitter accounts @newideamagazine and @Niroyalbaby!