(NBC News) -- It's a prince!
The Duchess of Cambridge gave birth Monday to her first child, a 8-pound, 6 ounce boy.
The palace revealed the news via press release at 8 p.m. local time following labor that lasted more than 14 hours at London's St. Mary's Hospital, the same facility where Princes William and Harry were born.
Per royal protocol, Queen Elizabeth was the first to hear; Prince William called her personally.
The baby's birth was to be announced to the world in a formal declaration placed in front of Buckingham Palace on an easel, the same one used to announce Prince William's birth 31 years ago. But the palace released the news to the media first.
The infant will be third in line to the British throne, after his father and grandfather, Prince Charles. The baby is the first grandchild for both Prince Charles and the Middleton family.
Duchess Kate, 31, was admitted to St Mary's in the early stages of labor shortly before 6 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET).
According to NBC News' Jim Maceda, photographers reported seeing royal vehicles at a back entrance to St. Mary's Hospital at about 6 a.m. local time. About 90 minutes later, royal officials confirmed Duchess Kate, 31, traveled from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing of the hospital via car, not an ambulance.