Royal Baby's First Day Out: Proud Parents Kate and William Leave Kensington Palace With Son After Visit From Queen and Harry
By 0
Baby Cambridge was taken for his first afternoon out today as it was revealed the Queen and Prince Harry have now met the royal baby for the first time.
Kate and William smiled broadly and waved from their car as they were driven away from Kensington Palace by security, where they had spent their first night together as a family.
Both the Duke and Duchess looked happy and fresh-faced, with William sat in the front passenger seat and Kate in the back with their child in his baby seat.
They left their west London home shortly after the Queen had visited her new great-grandson and potentially discussed names with the parents.
Kensington Palace officials would not confirm where the young family were going this afternoon, but their black Land Rover was later seen arriving at grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton's mansion in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Her Majesty, who will travel to Balmoral for her summer holiday on Friday, spent 30 minutes with the Duke, Duchess and Baby Cambridge from 11am.
It has also emerged that Prince Harry, who is said to be thrilled to have become an uncle, may have been there last night after the trio left hospital, having raced back to London from Wattisham airbase in Suffolk where he is on duty with the RAF.
It is understood that James Middleton and Pippa Middleton were also at Kensington Palace yesterday evening.
Scroll down for videos
First day at home: Kate, William and their baby left Kensington Palace today as they were seen for the first time since leaving hospital last night
Very happy: Kate and William both smiled and waved to crowds outside the gates, but Kensington Palace would not reveal where they were heading
Relaxed: William looked fresh and was wearing glasses while Kate chatted to their newborn and grinned to people watching as she sat next to their prince's baby seat
New mother: Kate waved with her left hand and appeared to have her right hand resting next to her baby
Last night The Queen told guests at a Buckingham Palace reception she was 'thrilled' at the birth of her great-grandson, and today William and Kate may have discussed potential names with her.
On the eve of the baby's birth, the Queen famously told a ten-year-old schoolgirl that she didn't mind if it was a boy or a girl, adding: 'I would very much like it to arrive. I’m going on holiday'.
Dressed in a turquoise floral outfit she looked relaxed and happy as she left, having travelled the short distance from Buckingham Palace without the Duke of Edinburgh, who is still convalescing at Windsor Castle following exploratory abdominal surgery last month.
Baby Cambridge has spent his first night at home after a dramatic evening where the waiting world had its first wonderful glimpse of him.
Heading home: After half an hour with the new prince, Kate and William, where they may have discussed names, the Queen went back to Buckingham Palace
Down the drive: Her Majesty visited without the Duke of Edinburgh, who is still at Windsor Castle recuperating after an operation last month
Special moment: Prince William and Kate waved and smiled broadly as they carried their son out of hospital, but they are yet to decide on a name
New life: The baby was crying in his car seat as his father took him to their waiting car yesterday evening
Happy day: The Queen arrives at Kensington Palace today to meet her new great-grandson for the first time and see his parents
Happy to be there: The Queen looked expectantly towards the palace as she arrived and she will be pleased to see the baby before she goes on holiday on Friday
Prince William said yesterday they were 'still working on a name' for the future king, reportedly because he and Kate wanted to see their baby’s 'little face' and get to know him before choosing one.
After he left hospital at around 7pm his aunt Pippa and her boyfriend Nico Jackson were waiting for him at Kensington Palace for a cuddle as the little boy is introduced to his family.
William's brother Harry is currently on duty with the RAF in Wattisham, Suffolk, so is not expected to see his nephew for several days, although sources said today he was thrilled to have become an uncle and cannot wait to meet him.
The Cambridges were safely tucked away in a small cottage in Kensington Palace's grounds today, with the only sign of movement this morning being a royal protection officer walking their dog Ludo nearby.
Magic: With the world watching, Kate and William hold their prince outside the Lindo Wing in a genuinely historic moment for Britain
Emotional: The new mother looked delighted as she looked down at her first child while her husband waved to the excited crowds
Protective: The baby was wrapped in a white shawl - Kate held her new son closely to her chest as she waved to the impressive crowd
Gentle: The trio take their first steps together into the outside world together as the prince starts his life
Arrival: The new family arrive at Kensington Palace with their newborn son - where Pippa Middleton was waiting for them
His grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton and Prince Charles, with his wife Camilla, met the baby at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital yesterday afternoon and the child will also meet the Queen in the coming days.
Welcome party: Kate's sister Pippa, pictured in London last month, was waiting at Kensington Palace last night to see the baby
But it could still be longer until he gets a name.
When Prince William arrived in 1982, his parents took seven days to decide what to call him, while the Queen took a month to name Prince Charles when he was born in 1948.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have 42 days to register their son’s birth, but are unlikely to take that long.
George and James became the favourites at the bookies last night, after hundreds of thousands of pounds were staked on the possibilities.
Alexander, Henry, Louis, Richard and Arthur were the next most betted-on choices.
The name will likely come to symbolise an entire era, as in Georgian, Victorian and Elizabethan.
Last night Prince William and Kate waved and smiled broadly to the waiting cameras as they held their prince on the steps of the private Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London, 26 hours after he was delivered, weighing 8lbs 6oz.
Speaking for the first time since giving birth, an obviously moved Duchess of Cambridge said: 'It's been very emotional. Any parent will know what this feeling is like.'
As they left St Mary's carefully cradling their precious child, the Duke of Cambridge followed the steps his parents Charles and Diana took with him 31 years ago, when he was born there on June 21, 1982.
'He's a big boy, quite heavy. We're still working on a name,' he told reporters, adding: 'Well he has a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure.'
Confirming that the prince was overdue, William said: ‘I will remind him of his tardiness when he is older.’
With a huge smile he then added: ‘He’s got her looks thankfully’ to which the Duchess responded ‘No, no, no I’m not sure about that.’
The Duchess wore a lilac purple dress, with her long hair falling in waves around her face. The new father wore a blue open neck shirt rolled up to his elbows with black trousers.
She revealed that her clearly hands-on husband had already changed his first nappy.
Waiting: The media has moved from St Mary's Hospital, where they have been for weeks, to Kensington Palace, where the Duke, Duchess and Baby Cambridge are all staying
On patrol: Scotland Yard officers today walk the grounds of Kensington Palace after the arrival of Kate, William and their baby last night
The couple then returned to the hospital as William held his son, swaddled in a blanket, before bringing him out again in his car seat.
The Prince was heard to affectionately call Kate 'Poppet' as he ushered her back to the Lindo Wing.
William then visibly breathed a sigh of relief when he successfully installed his baby on the back seat with his wife, before driving them home to Kensington Palace cheered on by a huge crowd.
As soon as William returns to work following his two weeks’ statutory paternity leave, Kate plans to depart the palace for her parents’ mansion in Berkshire.
She will reside there - on and off - for the next six weeks, while her husband completes his present tour of duty with the RAF in Anglesey, North Wales.
Home sweet home: Nottingham Cottage, the two-bedroom pied-a-terre circled in red in the grounds of Kensington Palace, is the baby's first home
The prince will finish his posting as a Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley in early September, relocating to London while waiting for his next assignment, meaning the couple can enjoy some quality time together as a new family.
Within weeks – by October at the latest - it is hoped that they will finally be able to move into their new official London residence, Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace
Apartment 1A is actually a spacious four-storey, 20-room property with its own large south-facing walled garden, which takes up half the Clock Tower wing originally designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary.
Their child is now third in the line of succession, displacing Prince Harry to fourth and the Duke of York to fifth, although he may not become sovereign for half a century or more.
Caring: As his wife walked down the steps, William placed a protective hand on her arm to make sure the new mother and son made it down the steps safely
Warm welcome: The ecstatic crowd sang 'Congratulations' as the new parents stepped out of the London hospital
The safe hands of the Duchess of Cambridge with her son who was born on Monday, but was thrown into the spotlight yesterday
Happy trio: Kate told reporters that 'It's been very emotional. Any parent will know what this feeling is like' while the prince joked the baby 'has more hair than me'
Are those tears? The Duchess admitted the becoming a mother for the first time was 'emotional'
Huge crowds were waiting to catch a glimpse of the couple and the baby outside St Mary's hospital
The Duke, Duchess and Baby Cambridge travelled home to Kensington Palace, and will spend two weeks there while William is on paternity leave.
Palace officials confirmed for the first time last night that the couple will not have a nannyand rely upon their families help instead, saying: 'They have both got families that will care hugely for this baby.'
Huge crowds of well-wishers and journalists from all over the world have been waiting outside the west London hospital ward for weeks, first to be there when Kate went into labour and now as the couple left with her firstborn child.
Earlier the royal baby's grandparents met him for the first time, and soon afterwards Kensington Palace confirmed the Duke, Duchess and baby would leave hospital.
Kate's sister Pippa was said to be there waiting for her.
Carole and Michael Middleton were the first to arrive at the private Lindo Wing at around 3pm yesterday, with Prince Charles and his wife Camilla following them at 5.30pm after being rushed to London by helicopter after two-days carrying out official duties in Yorkshire.
Before mounting the St Mary's Hospital steps, the smiling Prince of Wales asked journalists who have been stood outside for almost three weeks: 'Have you been there long?'
When he left around 10 minutes later, Charles said the baby was 'marvellous' and told journalists: 'You'll see in a minute'.
Gently does it: After Kate took the prince down the stairs, William carefully picked up their son
Big moment: Prince William holds his son for the first time in front of the world's media
Debut: Despite the excitement the tiny baby seemed to remain asleep throughout his debut allowing his parents to answer questions
The future king made his public entrance in the safe hands of the Duke of Cambridge and his wife as they left the Lindo Wing
Part of the journey: The medical staff at the hospital lined up as the new parents emerged
Poignant: It was an emotional moment for William - the Duke of Cambridge had followed the steps his parents Charles and Diana took with him 31 years ago, when he was born there on June 21, 1982
Statement: William and Kate both spoke to the press and the Prince said 'thankfully he has her looks'
Good spirits: The new parents both looked in good spirits as they spoke to the waiting press, ending weeks of speculation about when the baby will arrive
Soon afterwards Kensington Palace confirmed: 'Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge will be discharged this evening.
'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their son will travel home to Kensington Palace.
'Their Royal Highnesses would like to reiterate their thanks to the hospital for the care and treatment they have all received'.
Earlier doting grandmother Carole Middleton described her grandson, the future king, as 'absolutely beautiful' after she and her husband visited him.
The Duchess of Cambridge's parents said their first grandchild is 'absolutely beautiful' and his parents are coping 'fabulously'.
The Middletons spent just over an hour with their daughter Kate and son-in-law William, and a smiling Mrs Middleton, speaking about mother and baby, said: 'They are both doing really well, and we are so thrilled.'
When asked by the world's media, who have been camped outside for nearly three weeks, how the proud parents were doing, she replied: 'Fabulously.'
Asked what the first cuddle with her grandson was like, Mrs Middleton, who had been ushered forward by her husband to speak to the press, said: 'Amazing, It's all coming back.'
Strapped in: The newborn baby was strapped into a car seat as Prince William carried him out of the hospital and into the awaiting car
William calmly carried his new baby to the Range Rover which he drove home himself with his wife and child on board
Welcome to the world: The baby, titled His Royal Highness, Prince (name) of Cambridge, raised his tiny hands in the air as he was transported to the awaiting car in the car seat
Precious cargo: Prince William carefully placed his new son in the back seat of the awaiting car in preparation for their journey back to Kensington Palace
Relief: With the world watching as he strapped his new son into the car William let out a sigh of relief that he had passed a crucial parent test - the fiddly car seat
leave a comment
Related Articles
-
Hannah Anderson Hits Back at Critics Who Questioned Her 'Odd Behavior' After Friend Murdered Her Mom and Brother - as She Shows Off New Boyfriend
0
-
Teen Fashion Model Georgina Got So Thin Her Organs Were Failing and Now She's Telling Her Story to Shame the Whole Industry
0
