She travelled by car from the palace to St Mary's in Paddington, west London, with her husband the Duke of Cambridge.

 

The couple do not know the sex of their first child, who will be third in line to the throne. 

 

The BBC's Nick Witchell said there was likely to be no more news until the official announcement of the birth.

 

The world's press have been camped outside St Mary's for days in anticipation¹ of the birth. The due date had never been officially announced but had widely been expected to be mid-July.

 

Royal vehicles were seen at a back entrance to the hospital at about 06:00 BST, with the announcement coming from Kensington Palace an hour-and-a-half later.

 

The duchess is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist（妇科学家） Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children.

 

Assisting him is Alan Farthing, the former fiance of murdered TV presenter² Jill Dando and the Queen's current gynaecologist.

 

The Duke of Cambridge has been with his wife on annual leave and will have two weeks' paternity leave.

 

It is believed the next time the couple will be seen in public is when they appear on the steps of the hospital with their baby.

 

The way the birth will be announced is steeped in tradition. It is custom for news of royal births and deaths to be attached to the railings of Buckingham Palace but in this case, it will be displayed on an ornate easel in the forecourt of the palace. 

 

The Queen, senior members of the royal family, and the duchess's family - if they are not at the hospital - will be told about the birth first.

 

Then a royal aide will take the bulletin³, signed by key medical staff, from the hospital to the palace under police escort⁴. 

 

After the note is displayed, an announcement will be posted on Twitter and Facebook, and the media will be informed.

 

Under new laws to succession⁵ the baby will remain third in line to the throne regardless of gender⁶.

 

The couple announced they were expecting their first child in December after the duchess was admitted to hospital suffering from severe morning sickness.

 

Since the announcement, the duchess has carried out 19 days of public engagements⁷ before going on maternity⁸ leave in the middle of June.

 

Catherine's final public appearance before the birth was at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June.

 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, watched on television by millions of people around the world.

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