William and Kate 'delighted' by news of royal baby's arrival

Prince Harry and Meghan have finally welcomed their first child, and brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, are “delighted” by the news.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have shared their congratulations with the new parents in a message posted to the Kensington Royal social media accounts.

“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son today, and look forward to meeting the latest addition to the family,” the statement read.

Meghan and Harry shared the news of the birth of their first child, a baby boy, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A beaming Prince Harry said the pair were "absolutely thrilled" and thanked the public for their support.

He said Meghan and the baby were doing "incredibly well" and that the baby "is absolutely to die for”.

"It was amazing, absolutely incredible. As I say, I am so incredibly proud of my wife and, as every father and parent would ever say your baby is absolutely amazing, this little baby is absolutely to die for," a smiling Harry told reporters in Windsor.

He said they had not yet decided on a name for the child and would make their first appearance as a family in a couple of days' time.

Palace caught by surprise

A royal commentator has suggested that palace aides may have been caught off guard by the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby.

An announcement that Meghan, 37, had gone into labour in the early hours of Monday morning was followed by another just one hour later, that she had safely delivered a son in the early hours of Tuesday morning, weighing 7lbs 3ozs (3.2kg).

Speaking to the BBC, Katie Nicholl says: “I don’t know how much this has caught the palace press office by surprise as well, it’s happened very quickly.

“It gives you some indication of how private this birth has been kept.”