Princess Diana gave birth to a boy 16 hours after checking in at St Mary’s Hospital in London.
The boy, named William, was born at 21:03 BST and weighed 7 pounds and 1½ ounces.
He took Princess Diana to the hospital at 0500BST this morning and is the successor to the British throne after her father, Prince of Wales, who was with her all day long.
Outside the hospital, crowds were gathering to wait for birth news. Some said they would wait all night if needed. The flowers arrived all day and were taken to the hospital.
Thousands also gathered outside Buckingham Palace, where the birth was officially announced.
The Queen continued her planned program and visited the RAF Regiment, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in Wittering, Cambridgeshire.
A palace official said he seemed “absolutely pleased” when he heard that the princess had given birth.
The princess gave birth earlier than expected, but only a few days.
Jeffrey Chamberlain, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at St. George’s Hospital Medical School in London, told BBC News that long working hours should not be a source of concern.
He states: “A little over half of the women who expect their first baby to give birth within 12 hours will have an additional one-fifth to about 18 hours and another one-fifth to be even longer.
“There is nothing wrong with working 24 hours a day.”
George Pinker, an obstetrician and gynecologist who has been caring for the princess throughout her pregnancy, was in charge of the birth.
Courtesy BBC News
In context
Prince William was the first successor to the British throne born in the hospital.
His brother, Prince Harry, was born on September 15, 1984.
Eight-year-old William was sent to a school in Wokingham, Berkshire, where he went to Eaton at the age of 13, where he earned 12 GCSEs and was excellent in a variety of sports.
After earning an A level in grades A, B and C, he earned a degree in art history from Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews. He switched to geography and earned a 2: 1 honors degree in his master’s degree.
In 2006 the prince joined the army and enrolled in the Sandhurst Officer Training Academy.
The prince had to endure the collapse of his parents’ marriage and the sudden death of his mother in August 1997.
