London:
The world today got its first glimpse of the baby destined to be Britain's King one day, as Prince William and Kate Middleton posed with their newborn son while leaving hospital for ecstatic Britons to capture the historic moment.
Prince William and Kate Middleton emerged on the steps of St Mary's Hospital in London this evening with their newborn baby boy for the first time.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge gave the world a glimpse of the Prince of Cambridge for the customary royal family portrait amid cheers from the crowd of well-wishers and mediapersons from across the globe who were camped outside the hospital.
The baby raised a tiny hand above his white blankets but remained quiet.
"He has a good pair of lungs on him and he's quite heavy. We are still working on a name," said William, taking the little prince from his wife's arms.
He said: "It's the first time we have seen him really so we are having a proper chance to catch up."
"He's got her (Kate) looks, thankfully," he added, when asked who the baby looks like.
Speaking to the waiting crowd, Prince William said: "I'll remind him of his tardiness when he's a bit older.
"I know how long you've all been standing here so hopefully the hospital and you guys can all go back to normal now and we can go and look after him."
31-year-old Kate said: "It is a very emotional moment, like any new parent would know".
William, 31, dressed casually in a blue shirt with rolled up sleeves, and Kate wearing a light blue polka dotted dress, then took their 26-hour-old baby boy wrapped in a white blanket back into the hospital to secure him into a car seat before stepping out again into a Range Rover to be driven away to their home in Kensington Palace where Kate's sister Pippa was reportedly waiting.
In the minutes leading up to their exit at 19:13 (local time), Kensington Palace had issued a statement confirming that the Duchess was to be discharged this evening.
Just before they made their exit, Prince Charles had visited the the Lindo Wing of the hospital to see his first grandchild and the third in line to Britain's throne.
Accompanied by wife Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles saw the newest royal heir for the first time at the same wing where both his own sons William and Harry were born.
He had triggered a frenzy among the waiting reporters and camerapersons as he said on his departure: "He ( royal baby) is marvellous. You will see in a minute".
