Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesThe royal family is about to get bigger!
Kate Middleton has gone into labor with her second child, Kensington Palace has confirmed to E! News. The Duchess of Cambridge, 33, will give birth in the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary's hospital in London.
"HRH The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted at 06.00hrs to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, London and is in the early stages of labour," Kensington Palace tweeted Saturday morning. "The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge."
For the first time, the palace simultaneously released its statement to the media and tweeted the news. (And posted on Instagram!)
"My best wishes to the Duchess of Cambridge, who is having her second child today," British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted not long after the announcement went out. "The whole country will wish her well."
Middleton is under the care of Guy Thorpe-Beeston, surgeon-gynecologist to the household, and Alan Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II's current OBGYN. Marcus Setchell, the queen's former surgeon-gynecologist, was head doctor when Prince George was born and put off his retirement to do the honors.
During a press briefing at Buckingham Palace on Apr. 9, a palace aide told the press that Middleton and Prince William are "hugely grateful for the warm wishes they have received...over the last few months."
"They know that people are excited that Prince George will soon have a little brother or sister, and it means a great deal to them that so many will be celebrating this important moment for their family."
Unlike in July 2013, when Prince George was born, news crews will not be able to camp out for days. The media is not allowed to "populate" what palace officials called a "partial installation" of the pens.
Instead, broadcast positions were set up near Buckingham Palace.
After Middleton's son or daughter is born, an announcement will be posted on the easel close to the Buckingham Palace gates. There may be a lag between an electronic announcement and a pictorial one.
The newborn will spend his or her first days inside Apartment 1a at Kensington Palace. From there, the royal family of four will travel to the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall, about 150 miles north of London, in Norfolk. Prince William, 32, will then take two weeks of paternity leave from his job at Bond Air Services, which directly employs him in his role as a pilot for the East Anglia Air Ambulance service.
Tune in for a brand-new episode of The Royals this Sunday at 10 p.m. on E!