The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomes baby girl

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Image from Flickr

The Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a  baby girl, an announcement was made on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex can confirm.

"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," the statement said.

"Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital," the statement further added.

The baby weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces (3.49 kilos).

"Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home."

Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were already informed and were “delighted” with the news.

The couple named their second child Lilibet in honor of The Queen, whose nickname is Lilibet.  The baby’s middle name, Diana, is a tribute to her "beloved late grandmother", the Princess of Wales.  

Lilibet is The Queen's eleventh great-grandchild and is now the eighth in line to the throne, after her father, the Duke of Sussex and her older brother, Archie. Harry’s uncle, Prince Andrew , who was born second in line to the throne, has now been pushed to ninth place.

The couple, through their Archewell website, has issued a message of thanks to their supporters and said that they are “grateful for the love and prayers we've felt from across the globe” and described the birth of their new baby as “more than we could have ever imagined.”  

 The Prince of Wales tweeted: "Congratulations to Harry, Meghan and Archie on the arrival of baby Lilibet Diana. Wishing them all well at this special time.” meanwhile, the Duke of Duchess and Cambridge said: "We are all delighted by the happy news of the arrival of baby Lili."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also extended his greetings and sent "many congratulations" to the couple. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also welcomed this "wonderful news".