It was clear early on that St George's Day in 2018 could be a very patriotic day indeed.

%image(14726778, type="article-full", alt="The Duke of Cambridge holds the hand of his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, as he carries their newborn son from the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire")

The Duchess of Cambridge was driven to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington before 6am after her waters broke. She was accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge.

Kensington Palace confirmed at 8.24am that Kate had been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour, which resulted in throngs of royal watchers and the world's media gathering outside the hospital eagerly waiting for news.

As there is often no telling how long a birth will take, no-one knew whether she would give birth that day or at a later stage.

At 1.02pm the gathered crowds outside and people across the country got the news they had hoped for, as Kensington Palace announced the 8lb 7oz prince had been born a couple of hours earlier.

%image(14726779, type="article-full", alt="Prince George arrives to meet his newborn brother at the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire")

A bulletin on a golden easel outside Buckingham Palace announcing the birth was put up at 2.30pm, in a ritual which dates back to at least 1837 when the palace became the sovereign's official residence.

Placed by footman Heather McDonald and senior footman Olivia Smith, the notice read: 'Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 11.01am today.

'Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.'

Anticipation then turned to when the public might get their first glimpse of the newly-born prince.

%image(14726780, type="article-full", alt="Senior footman Olivia Smith (left) and footman Heather McDonald place a notice on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London to formally announce the birth of a baby boy to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at St Mary's Hospital. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire")

They did not have to wait long, as Prince William was seen heading off in a Land Rover Discovery and returning about 40mins later with Prince George and Princess Charlotte in tow.

After the children had the chance to meet their new brother, William and Kate emerged on the steps of the Lindo Wing at 5.51pm to proudly show off their newborn son to the world.

Wearing a red Jenny Packham shift dress with a delicate white floral lace collar, Kate cradled her newborn son in a shawl from GH Hurt and Son Ltd, with William by her side.

The royal couple retreated indoors after a few minutes of posing for photographs and then returned home to Kensington Palace, with the Duke joking that the family had 'thrice the worry now but that they were 'very happy, very delighted'.

%image(14726781, type="article-full", alt="The Duke of Cambridge talks to the media outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, after his wife gave birth to their third child. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire")

%image(14726782, type="article-full", alt="The BT Tower with the words "Its a boy" lit at the top, after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London. Picture: David Mirzoeff/PA Wire")