Kate Middleton's baby is finally here! Buckingham Palace confirms that the Duchess of Cambridge has given birth to a baby boy, the first child for her and Prince William.

Kate was admitted to St Mary's Hospital on the morning of July 22. She and Prince William arrived via car through a secret side entrance.

The birth comes after an anxious waiting period. Beginning in early July, press and fans camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital waiting for the duchess to arrive on her speculative due date... only to be left waiting for days more.

The duchess' pregnancy was announced in December 2012, following months of royal baby rumors perpetuated by the tabloids. The day of the announcement, Kate was admitted to the hospital for treatment for hyperemesis gravidarum. The illness, an acute form of morning sickness, was thought to be serious enough to affect her entire pregnancy, preventing her from making many public appearances.

But over the course of her second and third trimesters, Kate was as active as ever. Between engagements at schools, museums and Buckingham Palace garden parties, Kate also made time to shop, go to Starbucks and walk her puppy in Hyde Park.

Now she'll have to bring a stroller along! Stay tuned for more updates on the royal baby, and click over to our royal pregnancy page for more goodies.