Kate Middleton Labor Update: When Will The Royal Baby Name Be Announced?

With the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, officially in labor as of early Monday morning, and husband Prince William by her side, media and fans of the royal couple are waiting for the first glimpse of the Britain’s newest royal outside St Mary’s Hospital in London. While immediately following the birth, the world will finally know the gender of the child, the name could still remain a secret.

According to a recent report from People magazine, the royal family has a history of keeping their royal children’s names private following delivery. Queen Elizabeth kept Prince Charles’s name a secret for a month following her delivery. Her late daughter-in-law Princess Diana followed suit by announcing Prince William’s name one week post-partum. Princess Diana and Prince Charles later chose to announce the name of their second child, Prince Harry, immediately following his leave from the hospital in 1984.

While Kate Middleton, 31, has remained traditional in her birthing choices, choosing to deliver at the St Mary’s Hospital Lindo wing, where her husband was born in 1982 and utilizing the royal family gynecologist, Dr. Alan Furthing, she's creating some new traditions of her own. The baby, whose arrival will be officially announced mere moments after birth, by a royal official placing a proclamation, including the child's sex, birth weight and birth date on an easel outside Buckingham Palace, will also, for the first time, be shared on Twitter.

While the name of the royal baby is still unknown, the Palace announced earlier this month that the child’s title will be “His or Her Royal Highness Prince or Princess of Cambridge.” The moniker is said to have been chosen by Queen Elizabeth. Throughout Middleton’s pregnancy, bidders have placed bets on what the child’s name might be. According to a report from the Huffington Post, “Alexandra” is the most popular girl name, with 2 to 1 odds, followed by “George” as the top boy name, with 12 to 1 odds.

The Palace was the first to announce in a statement early Monday morning that Middleton was in labor. “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labour. The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.”

Watch the St. Mary’s Hospital live stream to get the first glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their royal baby here.