The Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a baby son, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The baby, who was born at 5.26am, weighs 7lbs 3oz. The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.

The arrival comes less than a fortnight before Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are due to celebrate their first wedding anniversary.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are all said to be delighted with the news.

The Duchess' mother Doria Ragland is with her daughter at Frogmore Cottage and is "overjoyed".

The Duchess and her child are both doing well.

Prince Harry said in a statement from the couple's Windsor estate: "I’m very excited to announce that Meghan and myself have had a baby boy early this morning, a healthy boy.

"Mother and baby are doing incredibly well. It’s been the most amazing experience I can ever have possibly imagined.

"How any woman does that, what they do is beyond comprehension.

"We’re both absolutely thrilled and so grateful to all the love and support of everybody out there, it's been amazing so I just wanted to share this with everybody."

He added he and his wife are still thinking about names.

He ended saying: "This little thing is absolutely to die for so I’m over the moon."

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who married the pair at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle last year, was among the first to send his well wishes.

He tweeted: "Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the birth of their baby boy. May God bless the new family with love, health and happiness."

The Lord-Lieutenant of Kent Viscount De L’Isle said: "I'm absolutely delighted about the safe arrival of a baby boy for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"I join everyone in Kent and Medway in wishing them good health and every happiness."

Paul Auston, a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, who represents the royals in Swale, said: "I wish the couple all success and many congratulations."

When the founder and chairman of Sheppey-based safety and engineering firm Checkmate was asked if he had any words of advice for the new parents, he said: "As a parent myself, I wouldn't dream of it!"

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