Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Prince George arrives at Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital with dad Prince William to visit his new baby sister.
England has a new little princess.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, welcomed a healthy baby girl Saturday at 8:34 a.m.
“We’re very happy, thank you,” William told reporters as stepped out of the hospital for the first time since the royal birth, returning within minutes to bring his firstborn son, George, inside to meet his baby sister.
The new royal baby, who weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds, 3 ounces, is now fourth in line to the British throne. She follows her grandfather Prince Charles, her father and her big brother, Prince George.
“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,” Kensington Palace announced.
Kate delivered England’s “spare heir”in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London — the same place George was born in July 2013. Both William and his brother, Prince Harry, were also born in the same wing.
“Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl,” Prime Minister David Cameron said. “I’m absolutely delighted for them.”
Middleton gave birth less than three hours after it was announced she arrived at the hospital, markedly less than her 11-hour ordeal with George.
While the new baby’s name hasn’t been announced yet, British bookies favor Alice. Betting on royal baby names is big business in Britain: Bookmakers racked in $ 24 million before George’s birth.
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Britain’s Prince William waves as he leaves the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital.
The little princess’ name will be revealed in the coming days. George’s was announced two days after his birth, while William’s took a week.
Her birth comes on the heels of her parents’ fourth wedding anniversary on April 29. Her birthday is also close to her great-grandmother’s, Queen Elizabeth, who turned 89 on April 21.
FLASHBACK: Kate Middleton, Prince William reveal royal baby’s name is George Alexander Louis
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Royal fans celebrate outside the Lindo wing at St Mary’s hospital in central London Saturday after the news is passed that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William’s second child, a daughter, was born.
BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images
Royal fans celebrate outside the Lindo wing at St Mary’s hospital in central London Saturday after the news is passed that Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William’s wife, second child, a daughter, was born.
Jens Kalaene/dpa/Corbis
Terry Hutt, who’s celebrating his 80th birthday, hedges his bets with signs heralding the birth of a prince and a princess and proclaims on his placard “Not long to go!” in front of St. Mary’s Hospital as he awaits the birth of the next royal.
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Media teams rush to get their positions in the press pens outside the hospital where the next royal baby is due.
Tim Ireland/AP
Royal watcher scrawls betting odds on a chalkboard outside the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital on Saturday morning. The Duchess of Cambridge went into labor early in the day, igniting a national wave of anticipation and a last-minute betting spree on the name of the new prince or princess.
JOHN STILLWELL/AFP/Getty Images
Prince William and Kate Middleton are expected to welcome their next royal baby.
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The Duke and Duchess announced they were expecting their second child in September.
Once they leave the hospital, the couple and new baby are expected to spend a few days at their London home, Kensington Palace, and then head north to their country home, Anmer Hall. William will take two weeks of paternity leave from his day job as an air ambulance pilot. Kate is planning a maternity leave from royal duties.
George’s 2013 birth prompted celebrations across London and the U.K. Royal baby watchers swarmed the hospital when Kate’s car pulled up, and when the newborn’s arrival was announced hours later, revelers cheered, danced in the streets and sang “Happy birthday, dear prince.”
FLASHBACK: Prince William, Kate Middleton emerge with royal baby: ‘We’re still working on a name’
The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 2, 2015
The new princess’ arrival shakes up the succession to the throne. William’s little brother, Harry, was knocked down to the No. 5 spot, and the rest of the royal family took a step back, too.
The new baby is considered a “spare heir,” since first-born George will likely become the 43rd monarch of England in a line going back to 1066. The new princess will be in line to take the throne should anything happen to her big brother.
Second-born spare heirs have taken reign before: Both the queen’s grandfather George V, whose older brother died at 28, and her father George VI, whose older brother abdicated to marry an American divorcee, were “spares.”
With Jason Silverstein, News Wire Services
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