Beaming with pride, Prince William and wife Kate show off their beautiful baby daughter.
Wrapped in a white shawl and wearing a cream bonnet, the fourth in line to the throne slept soundly through the screams and camera flashes that greeted her public debut less than 10 hours after she was born.
Kate looked flawless in a cream and yellow floral Jenny Packham dress as she cradled her baby daughter outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s hospital in Paddington, central London.
She and William waved to the crowds, some of whom had camped out for days after she was tipped to be due last week.
The new princess arrived at 8.34am weighing 8lbs 3oz after a labour lasting less than two hours.
Her big brother, 21-month-old Prince George, met his sister in the afternoon after being taken to the hospital by dad William.
Dressed like his dad in a blue V-neck jumper and open-necked shirt, he waved to the adoring crowds at the very spot where he was first presented to the world in July 2013.
A smiling William told waiting fans: “We’re very happy, thank you.”
At 6.11pm, after a couple of minutes on the steps with the princess, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge put her gently into a car seat and William then drove his wife and new baby to Kensington Palace in a black Range Rover.
They spent their first night as a new family of four there and will travel to their country home at Anmer Hall in Norfolk with Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton in the coming days.
And she could be named in the next 24 hours, with Charlotte emerging as the bookies' favourite.
Kensington Palace announced the birth on Twitter at 11.07am, sparking cries of “three cheers for the royal baby” and “hip hip hooray” from fans decked out in Union Jack clothing outside the Lindo Wing.
Celebrations were in full swing as the fans excitedly sang out: “Princess! Princess! Princess!”
An official statement said: “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed.”
The new princess has not yet been given a name – that is unlikely to happen until she is introduced to her great grandmother, the Queen.
In keeping with tradition the birth was announced in a short statement placed on a golden easel outside Buckingham Palace by two uniformed footmen at 12.33pm
Town crier Tony Appleton climbed the steps outside the Lindo Wing – where Wills, 32, was also born – at 11.19am. Ringing a bell he boomed: “We welcome with humble duty the new baby of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Princess is fourth in line to the throne.”
Town crier Tony Appleton climbed the steps outside the Lindo Wing – where Wills, 32, was also born – at 11.19am. Ringing a bell he boomed: “We welcome with humble duty the new baby of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Princess is fourth in line to the throne.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said: “It’s wonderful news that the Duke and Duchess have a healthy new baby girl. May God bless them and both of their children with love, health and joy.”
The drama began at 5.57am as police put the area around St Mary’s in lockdown.
Kate, 33, slipped into the building by a side door at the aptly named Cambridge entrance three minutes later. Her labour was announced at 6.39am.
A 41-gun salute in Hyde Park and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London will be held at 2pm on Monday.
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