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Baby Princess Spends First Night At Home

Baby Princess Spends First Night At Home

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spending their first night at home with their baby daughter after leaving hospital to roaring applause from waiting crowds.

The royal couple proudly showed their princess to the world around 6pm - just 10 hours after she was born - and are now at Kensington Palace with young son Prince George.

The moment Prince William and wife Kate emerged through the doors of the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London, supporters cheered and photographers and camera crews captured the first images of the baby girl.

Kate, 33, held the as-yet unnamed princess who was wrapped in a white shawl and a cream woollen bonnet, tied under her chin. She appeared to be fast asleep.

The couple smiled and briefly waved to the crowds and the world's media.

Kate wore a floral yellow and white Jenny Packham dress while her husband William, 32, looked relaxed in a white shirt and blue jumper.

They went back inside to place the baby in a car seat and then re-emerged to more cheers. Kate held William's hand as they walked down the steps together - he carried the car seat.

William placed the newborn on the back seat of a Range Rover and then he drove the family to their home at Kensington Palace.

Their daughter, who is fourth in line to the throne, was born at 8.34am and William had been present for the birth.

Both mother and child, who weighed 8lb 3oz, were "doing well", the palace said.

The princess' older brother Prince George had visited her in hospital but was taken back to the palace separately, reportedly to have a bath.

Before William picked up George from the palace, he told reporters he was "very happy".

When the Duke came back with his 21-month-old son, the little prince walked just a few steps before he wanted to be carried by his father.

The pair stopped and waved to the media and crowds of well-wishers and William kissed his son on the head before they made their way inside.

It was the first time George has been officially seen in public in the UK since he left the same hospital himself as a newborn nearly two years ago.

An official announcement about the birth came just after 11.15am, with the delay understood to have been so the couple could tell their families.

The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and the baby's uncle Prince Harry had been informed and the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are "absolutely delighted", Clarence House said.

Her Majesty wore pink for a girl and beamed with happiness at Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire, when well-wishers applauded and congratulated her on the birth of her fifth great-grandchild.

The Duke of Cambridge's uncle Earl Spencer said: "It's wonderful news - we are all thrilled for all four of them."

In celebration, London's Tower Bridge turned pink as did fountains in Trafalgar Square.

It is believed that the princess could be christened before the Queen goes to Balmoral for the summer in a couple of months' time.

The couple plan to spend a few days at Kensington Palace before heading to their private residence of Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk .

At Buckingham Palace, a framed notice of birth was put on display on a ceremonial easel on the forecourt to officially announce the birth.

Guy Thorpe-Beeston, the surgeon-gynaecologist to the Royal Household, led the team of doctors and nurses that looked after Kate.

Alan Farthing was also present. He is surgeon-gynaecologist to the Queen.

Kate, who suffered hyperemesis gravidarum, or extreme morning sickness, early in her pregnancy, was a number of days overdue and had been taken to the hospital at 6am from Kensington Palace.

The birth of a girl will have been a surprise to the royal couple, who had chosen not to find out the sex of their baby in advance.

And the Prince of Wales will be overjoyed as he made no secret he wanted his second grandchild to be a girl.

While her name is yet to be announced, betting has been suspended on Charlotte - the feminine form of Charles - which may be chosen as a nod to William's father, the Prince of Wales. Other favourites include Alice, the name of one of Queen Victoria's daughters and also of the Duke of Edinburgh's mother.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could also choose Elizabeth in tribute to the baby's great-grandmother the Queen or perhaps Victoria in honour of the baby's great-great-great-great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

The princess is unlikely to ever be crowned sovereign, being seen as the "spare to the heir", but she is the highest ranking female in line to the throne, following the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince George.

A girl has not been born this high up the line of succession for nearly 65 years.