Royal baby: Thousands of well-wishers gather outside Buckingham Palace

Well-wishers have gathered outside Buckingham Palace as the world anxiously waits for Kate Middleton to give birth to the future king or queen.

Despite being the hottest day of the year so far, thousands of people have gathered in London to celebrate the royal baby’s arrival while the Queen is now waiting at her home for her great-grandchild to be born.

Kate Middleton, who has Prince William by her side, was driven from Kensington Palace to the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, west London, at around 5.30 a.m. today.

A team of royal protection officers rushed Kate Middleton in via a rear exit, the same route taken by Princess Diana when she gave birth to Prince William in 1982.

This afternoon there was a large police presence around the hospital as royal fans gathered as they waited for news about the soon-to-be mother and baby.

Meanwhile, many more gathered outside Buckingham Palace, where the official announcement of the baby’s birth will be made on an easel to be placed at its gates.

Excitement reached feverish levels outside Buckingham Palace this afternoon when the Queen arrived home from Windsor Castle, where the huge crowd surged dangerously as she was driven through the gates.

Scores of people ran towards her vehicle screaming “The Queen!”, while others reached into their pockets to grab their camera phones in an effort to catch Her Majesty’s fleeting appearance.

The months of speculation and anticipation – dubbed the Great Kate Wait – built to a climax this morning amid news that the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labor.

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