Kate Middleton has been admitted to hospital and is in the early stages of labour, a statement from Kensington Palace has said (issued around 5pm Sydney time).
The Duchess of Cambrige 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 gender of their first child, who will be third in line to the throne. There is not likely to be any more news until the birth.
The world's media have been camped outside St Mary's for three weeks in anticipation of the birth. The due date had never been officially announced but had widely been expected to be mid-July.
The Duke of Cambridge has been with his wife on annual leave and will have two weeks' paternity leave.
Kate is under the care of the Queen's former gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell, 69, who is being assisted by Alan Farthing, 50, who succeeded him in 2008.
Under new laws to succession, the future monarch of Australia will remain third in line to the throne regardless of gender.
__small.png)
