Kate Middleton baby Couple confronted by media outside Lindo Wing

Kate Middleton baby Couple confronted by media outside Lindo Wing

They were probably hoping for a swift exit to take their newborn baby home.

But one unsuspecting couple got the shock of their lives as they emerged from the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London.

For they were greeted this morning by the world's media, who were waiting for the Duchess of Cambridge to emerge with Prince William and her third baby.

The couple posed for photographs outside the famous door in front of dozens of journalists and photographers before leaving in a taxi. 

Later today, Prince George and Princess Charlotte could pay a visit to the Lindo Wing to meet their new baby sibling - if the Cambridges keep up with tradition. 

Kensington Palace announced today that Kate had been admitted to the private Lindo Wing in labour, and later that she gave birth at about 11am.

The baby boy is fifth in line to the throne, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's sixth great-grandchild and a younger brother for George and Charlotte.

The Duchess was being cared for by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston, who is the surgeon-gynaecologist to the household.

Consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist - part of the trusted team who delivered George and Charlotte - was also on hand. 

For her previous births, Kate had a 23-strong team of top medics working or on stand-by from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - which runs St Mary's Hospital.

With the baby on its way, press pens opened outside the hospital as journalists, photographers and camera crews waited for confirmation of the baby's arrival. 

The Duchess's pregnancy was announced by Kensington Palace on September 4 last year. Kate again suffered from extreme pregnancy sickness hyperemesis gravidarum