Prince William’s wife Kate gives birth to girl

LONDON - Associated Press

Royal fan Terry Hutt poses for pictures as he sits on a bench outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital in central London, on April 30, 2015. Royal watchers continue to wait outside a London hospital for the birth of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge's second child. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL

Prince William’s wife Kate has given birth to a girl at a London hospital, who will be fourth in line to the throne and the fifth grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II.
                   
In a brief statement, palace officials said the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) on May 2 at St. Mary’s Hospital. She traveled by car to the Lindo wing with William.

"Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34 am," another statement then said.
                   
The baby will be a sister to William and Kate’s first child, Prince George, who was born July 22, 2013 at the same hospital.
                                                         
Kate had told a well-wisher earlier this year that the child was due in the second two weeks of April, kicking off what the tabloid press called the Great Kate Wait.
                   
Die-hard royal fans have camped outside the hospital for days. Several keen fans, draped in Union Jack flags and waving festive banners, waited patiently on the sidewalk, hoping for a glimpse of the family.
                   
William, who is on leave from his job as an air ambulance pilot, had been expected to be at his wife’s side in the hospital, as he was for George’s birth.
                   
The couple had said that they did not know whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.
                   
That’s been a boon for Britain’s bookmakers, who say they have received thousands of bets on the newborn’s gender and possible name.
                   
Most people were convinced that it would be a girl, despite the lack of any solid evidence to back that up.
                   
All the top bets for the baby’s name were for girls - Alice and Charlotte are the clear favorites, followed by Elizabeth, Victoria and Diana. All of the names have strong connections to royal tradition.
                   
Prince Charles signaled - twice - that he’s hoping for a granddaughter, which led some to speculate that Charles had some inside information.
                   
The monarchy has not welcomed a princess born this high up the line of succession for many years.
                   
Princess Anne, Charles’ sister, was born third in line in 1950. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were fifth and sixth in line at the time of their birth.