Congratulations on the birth of a Royal Princess...Kate gives birth to a girl at 8.34am

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl. We are absolutely delighted for them.

Official announcement from Kensington Palace at 11:10am

'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am.

'The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. '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.'

News updated every half an hour

The Duke and Duchess with new Royal Baby Princess

19.10

We're not expected to find out the name of the new Princess until she has met the Queen - probably tomorrow. Alice and Charlotte remain the favourites, but Victoria and Elizabeth now have a lot of backers. And there are strong suggestions that Diana could be a middle name.

19.00

Let's recap. the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at hospital at 6am this morning, with Kate in the early stages of labour. Only two and a half hours later, at 8.34am, she had given birth to a girl weighing 8lbs 3 ounces, a new Royal princess. Well-wishers around the world have sent in messages. At around 4pm William left for Kensington Palace to pick up Prince George, taking him back to the Lindo Wing to introduce him to his new sister. Then, shortly after 6pm the family emerged from the hospital to head home.

18.40

There's general delight that everyone is healthy - as indicated by the fact the Duchess was only in hospital for 12 hours today.

18.37

So the big question that remains is - what will the Princess be called? We still don't know her name, nor do we know when we'll find out, now that the family is back home at Kensington Palace.

18.32

Kate was wearing a dress by Jenny Packham - and as ever looked totally unflustered.

18.30

The Princess's shawl was from GH Hurt and Son Ltd. The company has a long-standing connection with the Royal Family.

18.16

And they have now left the hospital. The Duke and Duchess have taken the new Princess Cambridge home. They did not speak to the media.

Kate and William leave the hospital

18.13

Well, that was short but sweet. Kate and William have disappeared back inside the hospital.

The Royal Baby Princess

18.12

And here they are. The Duke and Duchess have appeared with their new baby daughter. The new royal princess appears to be fast asleep, oblivious to the media circus surrounidng her.

Duchess of Cambridge shows the new Royal Princess to the world

18.11

The anticipation outside the Lindo Wing is palpable - all eyes are fixed on the doors to the hospital.

18.04

The latest update we're hearing is that the Duke and Duchess will be leaving the hospital with their new baby girl imminently.

17.36

We're being told the baby moment is likely to happen at around 6.30

17.35

Here is the official announcement from Kensington Palace:

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will be leaving St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington this evening.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their daughter will travel home to Kensington Palace.

Prince George has now returned to Kensington Palace.

Their Royal Highnesses would like to thank all staff at the hospital for the care and treatment they have all received. They would also like to thank everyone for their warm wishes.

17.34

WE WILL SEE THE BABY TODAY

17.25

A reminder of the key facts of the day:

• The Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby girl weighing 8lbs 3oz • The baby was born at 8.34am, just two and a half hours after the Duchess was admitted • Prince William takes Prince George to see his new baby sister • Duke and Duchess may leave hospital with their baby today • No news on the baby's name yet

17.17

No official news yet on whether the Duchess will emerge with her new baby today, but the buzz outside the Lindo Wing is that she will. Royal protection officers and Kensington Palace staff have the air of people preparing for a major event.

16.15

Prince George, as ever, has stolen the show, for now at least. On his first "official" appearance in front of the public in Britain since the day after his birth, he waved obediently at his father's command, though his first smile in public is yet to come.

George toddled a few steps after William put him down on the pavement, then reached up to be picked up, and, wearing all blue like his father, waved to the gathering, screaming crowd across the road before posing on the steps and waving again, for which he earned a quick kiss from his father.

16.00

Prince William is due to return to Kensington Palace shortly. It is not known whether he will bring Prince George back to the Lindo Wing to meet his newborn sister.

15.54

Prince William has left the Lindo Wing, driving himself to Kensington Palace. He said "we're very,very happy," adding: "I'm just going to pick up George."

So George to visit his Mum and sister in hospital? And Kate to stay in overnight perhaps?

The announcement came by way of a statement released by Kensington Palace shortly after 11am. It was then posted on the palace's official Twitter page two minutes later.

'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am,' it said.

'The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. '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.

At around 12.30pm a framed certificate signed by Kate's medical team was placed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace with the same words.

The baby's name is not yet known but Alice and Charlotte are the most popular among bookmakers.

The Queen wore pink today

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall released a statement this afternoon saying they were 'absolutely delighted' with the arrival of their granddaughter while the Earl of Spencer, Prince William's uncle, said: 'It's wonderful news - we are all thrilled for all four of them.'

The Prime Minister was among the first to congratulate the couple this morning writing on Twitter: 'Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl.

'I'm absolutely delighted for them.'

He was followed by Nick Clegg who said: 'Congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their new baby. Miriam & I wish them all the best as their family grows.'

Labour leader Ed Miliband also offered his congratulations, writing on Twitter: 'Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess on the birth of their daughter. Wishing them lots of joy and happiness - and hopefully some sleep!'

Nigel Farage said he had told 'every Ukip candidate in the country to raise a glass to the royal baby girl' today, adding, somewhat bizarrely, that he was glad her weight (8lbs 3oz) had been given in imperial measurements.

The Tower Bridge was lit up in Pink

It is a Princess

The Royal Navy spell out SISTER

Kate was admitted to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital at 6am on Saturday morning, giving birth two-and-a-half hours later.

The announcement was not made to the media until shortly after 11am once the couple's close friends and family had been informed.

Kate is expected to spend one night in Kensington Palace with her new daughter and Prince George before retreating to Anmer Hall in Norfolk with Prince William and her parents.

When news of the baby's birth was announced, chants of 'Princess! Princess!' could be heard outside the Lindo Wing.