Tradition dictates how a Royal birth will be announced to the world.

Just as when Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born, the new royal baby's birth will be celebrated with the age-old custom of placing a paper proclamation for the public to see at Buckingham Palace.

A brief formal announcement - on foolscap-sized paper set in a dark wooden frame - will be placed on an ornate golden easel on the forecourt of the Palace.

It confirms the sex of the baby and the time of birth, but gives little else away, other than usually revealing that the baby has been 'safely delivered' and mother and child are 'doing well'.

It used to be hand-written, but is now typed.

It will also be signed at the hospital by the doctors who tended to the duchess, and then ferried back to the Palace by car.

Just like with George and Charlotte, an initial official announcement will be emailed to the press by Kensington Palace, coinciding with a confirmation of the birth via Twitter.

News of a new prince or princess is unlikely to be announced overnight as the Queen and members of both families will have to be informed first.

The names given to royal babies are not usually revealed straight away, and the public is often left guessing for several days.

William and Kate took two days to announce both George and Charlotte's names, informing the Queen of their choice beforehand.

Mike and Zara Tindall used Twitter to unveil their daughter's name six days after she was born in 2014, with proud dad Mike tweeting: 'For everyone who has asked what our daughter's name is, it's Mia Grace Tindall.'

When Princess Beatrice was born in 1988, it was two weeks before her name was known.

In 1982, the Prince and Princess of Wales waited seven days before deciding upon and announcing Prince William's name.

The Prince of Wales's name, however, remained a mystery for an entire month and was only declared ahead of his christening in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace in December 1948.

The birth will be celebrated with a 41-gun salute in Green Park or Hyde Park - and a 62-gun salute at the Tower of London.

Royal births are registered in the normal way, although the Home Secretary is required to notify certain officials including the Lord Mayor of London, the Governors of Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The Queen's top aide, her Private Secretary Edward Young, informs Governor Generals overseas, while announcements are also made on the monarchy's website and Facebook page.