Updated: Prince of Wales arrives at hospital to see grandson

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The Prince of Wales described his grandson as "marvellous", adding "wait and see, you'll see in a minute", after visiting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their new baby in hospital.

It came as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have thanked the hospital staff who delivered their baby, describing the care they received as "tremendous".

William and Kate expressed their gratitude to the medical team at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London after their son was born at the unit at 4.24pm yesterday, weighing 8lb 6oz.

The royal couple said in a statement: "We would like to thank the staff at the Lindo Wing and the whole hospital for the tremendous care the three of us have received.

"We know it has been a very busy period for the hospital and we would like to thank everyone - staff, patients and visitors - for their understanding during this time."

A Kensington Palace spokesman gave an update about the Duke and Duchess and their new son: "Mother, son and father are all doing well this morning."

It is still not known when William and Kate and their baby will leave hospital. Their departure could be this evening - though it will not be before 6pm - or possibly tomorrow.

The parents of the Duchess of Cambridge Carole and Michael Middleton are visiting their new Royal grandson in hospital.

Carole Middleton said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby was "absolutely beautiful", adding: "They're both doing really well, we're so thrilled."

The Prince of Wales today said he was "thrilled and very excited" about the birth of his first grandchild.

And the Duchess of Cornwall described the arrival of the Prince of Cambridge as "a wonderfully uplifting moment for the country".

Charles and Camilla were met by cheering crowds of well-wishers on a visit to East Yorkshire.
Villager after villager offered the couple their congratulations as the royal couple walked around the green in Bugthorpe.

Charles said: "I'm thrilled and very excited."The Duchess said Charles would make a "brilliant" grandfather.

"I think it's wonderful news. I think mother, son and father are all well," she told the BBC.

"And I think it's a wonderfully uplifting moment for the country.

"It's very exciting and it's wonderful for the grandfather - he's brilliant with children."

Meanwhile, the world is eagerly awaiting the first glimpse of the royal baby.

The Duke was at the Duchess's bedside when she gave birth at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London.

Watch Essex town crier Tony Apppleton tell the world the baby was here:

The royal couple could leave hospital before 6pm today with their son and show the baby prince to the world's waiting media and well-wishers.

The Prince of Wales, who has become a grandfather for the first time, summed up the feelings of the Royal Family when he described the new arrival as an "incredibly special moment for William and Catherine".

Crowds await the first glimpse today

William telephoned his family to tell them the good news, speaking personally to the Queen, his father Charles and younger brother Prince Harry. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are delighted at the news."

The new royal baby is third in line to the throne. He will be the 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if, as expected, he follows reigns by Charles then William.

The Prince of Wales issued a brief statement on Monday night saying: "Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild. It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy. Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."

Moments before Charles's joyous words were released, the Queen's press secretary Ailsa Anderson strode out on to Buckingham Palace's forecourt to place the official notice on its ornate stand. The document had four signatures, first of which was Marcus Setchell, surgeon gynaecologist to the Queen, who led the medical team that delivered Kate's baby.

Mr Setchell spoke movingly about the baby, describing the Queen's third great-grandchild as a "wonderful baby, beautiful baby".

The whole story in video: 

The Honorable Artillery Company fire a royal gun salute at the Tower of London