World sees first pictures of William and Kate's royal baby

. Credit: PA

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge proudly showed the world their baby son, a future king, before taking him home to Kensington Palace yesterday evening.

William and Kate appeared relaxed and beaming as they began their new lives as parents, cradling their baby prince and posing for pictures on the steps of the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London.

The Duchess held her son first and the couple looked relaxed and smiled broadly as the world's media captured the moment.

William later held his son and walked forward with his wife to answer a few questions.

He began by joking: "He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure. He's a big boy, he's quite heavy. We are still working on a name so we will have that as soon as we can."

He added: "It's the first time we have seen him really so we are having a proper chance to catch up."

William and Kate speak to reporters. Credit: PA

He added: "It's the first time we have seen him really so we are having a proper chance to catch up."

William carries his son into his car. Credit: PA

A crowd of well-wishers who were gathered at the entrance to Kensington Palace cheered as the Duke and Duchess arrived home with their baby.

William smiled from behind the wheel and Kate, who was sitting on the back seat, waved with her son next to her in a baby seat.

Speaking outside hospital, William said: "He's got her looks, thankfully," while Kate replied: "No, no, I'm not sure about that."

Joking about his apparent lack of hair the Duke said about his son: "He's got way more than me, thank God".

Kate waves to people watching from windows in the hospital building opposite. Credit: PA
William waves to gathered crowds. Credit: PA

The couple's good humour continued during their brief questioning from the press with Kate revealing that her husband was a hands on dad. Asked about changing nappies William said: "We've done that already," and Kate said "he's done his first nappy already".

William and Kate were in good humour as they answered questions from reporters. Credit: PA
The new Prince stretches his fingers outside the hospital. Credit: PA

The trio then returned to the hospital and emerged again with their son in a baby seat.

William carefully fitted it onto the backseat of a Range Rover beside his wife before driving his family home.

Reporters and photographers clamour to get a shot of the couple and their new son. Credit: PA

This afternoon the new prince had a visit from his great-grandmother the Queen.

Kate hands over the new Prince to William in front of swathes of photographers. Credit: Reuters

Dressed in a turquoise floral outfit, the Queen looked relaxed as she left Kensington Palace after spending just over half an hour with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child.

The Queen was driven from Buckingham Palace to Kensington Palace to meet the new arrival Credit: Rex Features

Shortly after that the couple emerged from Kensington Palace and were seen being driven towards the Middleton family home in Berkshire village of Bucklebury.

The Duke and Duchess have taken their son to stay with Kate's parents in Bucklebury. Credit: Rex Features

William is on two weeks paternity leave and it is expected the couple will enjoy the family support of Michael and Carole Middleton as they adjust to their new role as mum and dad.

A Kensington Palace spokesman said:

"This is now private and quiet time for them to get to know their son.''