Charles: 'We're waiting' for baby

A close friend of Prince William has spoken of his excitement ahead of the royal baby's arrival.

Oliver Hicks, who has just arrived in Norway after kayaking across the North Sea from Britain, said, "I was very keen to find out whether William and Kate's baby had arrived on making landfall".

Mr Hicks, who attended the royal wedding, said: "It was very exciting to hear the baby is now on its way as we landed back in the UK. It is such great - and very happy - news.

"I hope it all goes smoothly and wonder if the little one will be like William or Kate. I look forward to meeting the nipper in due course".

The Prince of Wales joked he was "very grateful indeed for the perfectly kind wishes about my rather slowly-approaching grandfatherhood".

Charles said during a visit to West Yorkshire, "Some of you may have realised that with grandfatherhood comes, in four months' time, old age pensionerhood".

The Prince added that he hoped he had "a long shelf-life".

Warning: This video contains flash photography:

A look at how the impending arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby is being covered around the world.

The front page of the Guardian website features a "Republican" switch which turns off all royal baby coverage.

Australia's Courier-Mail website leads with the headline "Royal baby is on the way".

David Cameron has said he will take his "place in the queue" to see the newborn royal baby, doubting that his own prominent role will get him an early viewing of the future heir.

Speaking to Channel 5 News' Emma Crosby, the Prime Minister said he was "pottering around the kitchen" moments before hearing the news that Kate had gone into labour.

Mr Cameron also offered some advice for William and recalled the "small contribution" he has made to shaping the royal baby's future.

Prince Charles laughed as a well-wisher shouted to him, "Congratulations Sir, it's triplets!"

As the Prince walked over to say hello, John Dowson joked, "I heard it on the radio".

Mr Dowson said afterwards, "He just laughed, he was really jolly. Everybody's so excited in the country for him".

Prince Charles looked perplexed when a bystander shouted "congratulations" to him during a visit to York Minster.

Charles appeared to say "Who? Me?" before chuckling as the woman explained the greetings were for the "imminent arrival".

As the Prince walked over to her, he joked, "Do you know something I don't?"

Prime Minister David Cameron told Channel 5 News he has already bought the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby a present:

Prince Charles was given a gift for the upcoming addition to the royal family during his visit to York.

As he accepted the gift, Charles said the baby "hasn't quite appeared yet".

Alex Dickinson said her son Freddie "thinks [the baby] is going to appear in six hours time", to which the Prince replied, "You might be right".

During a visit to York, Prince Charles was asked by a well-wisher whether there was any news from the hospital about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's baby.

The Prince replied, "Absolutely nothing at the moment - we're waiting."