Prince Charles and Camilla have met their newborn grandson for the first time.
Prince William and Kate received their first visitors since their son was born on Monday with first-time grandparents Carole and Michael Middleton arriving in a humble black taxi at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London.
"He's absolutely beautiful. They're both doing very well and we're so thrilled," a beaming Carole Middleton told the massed ranks of international media who have camped outside the hospital for weeks.
Asked if she had suggested a name for the unnamed third in line to the throne, she replied: "Absolutely not!"
William's father Charles, another first-time grandparent, arrived around two hours later with his wife Camilla in a chauffeur-driven limousine.
Leaving the hospital after about 15 minutes, he told the waiting media who asked about the baby "You'll see in a minute".
"Marvellous, thank you very much, absolutely wonderful," said Charles as he was bombarded by shouted questions from the assembled media.
The grandparents' visits sparked hopes that the baby would soon be presented to the rest of the world, with palace officials saying William and Kate, both 31, could leave as early as Tuesday night.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge themselves earlier thanked hospital staff for their "tremendous care", in their first joint statement since the baby was born.
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