World leaders celebrate birth of Britain's royal baby

Warm words of congratulations poured in from around the world for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge following the birth of their first child -- a boy destined to become king.

Much of the jubilation came from the countries of the Commonwealth, a group of 54 member states that once were united through their common allegiance to the British monarch and now serve as a voluntary association focused on democracy and development goals.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said it was "a happy day for our close friends in Britain and the Commonwealth," while New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said the birth of the child, who weighed 8-pounds and 6-ounces, was "wonderful news."

Support for the royals in New Zealand and Australia remains strong although debate flares periodically about whether ties to the monarchy should be cut, Agence France-Presse reported.

The royal baby may not be named for days or even weeks, but he already has a building dedicated to him.

Rudd said an enclosure at Sydney's Taronga Park Zoo would be named after the prince as part of a gift from his country. The government will donate $9,300 on the young prince's behalf toward a research project at the zoo to save the endangered bilby, a rabbit-like marsupial whose numbers are dwindling in the wild.

Monarchy New Zealand, a group dedicated to promoting the British monarchy, said it had organized a national light show, with 40 buildings across the islands lit up in blue to commemorate the royal birth, including Sky Tower in Auckland, the airport in Christchurch, and Larnach Castle in the South Island city of Dunedin.

A similar lighting ceremony took place in Canada. Peace Tower and Parliament buildings in the capital, Ottawa, were bathed in blue light, as was CN Tower in Toronto.

"On behalf of all Canadians, I offer our heartfelt congratulations to the Royal Couple & the entire Royal Family," Canadian PM Stephen Harper tweeted.

Canada bathed part of the Niagara Falls in blue light to mark the birth of the baby boy.

But it wasn't just Commonwealth countries that offered their congratulations.

Israeli President Shimon Peres wished "a hearty Mazel Tov" to the royal family for a baby "born in the most democratic country on earth."

"May he live to a hundred and twenty years," Peres wrote on Facebook, adding a picture of a gift for the parents, a blue-and-white baby suit embroidered with the words "From Israel with Love."

Iran joined the celebrations, too.

"I congratulate Her Majesty, the Queen of England, and also the Crown Prince on the birth" Iran Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi told reporters in Tehran. "This is a source of happiness."

Al Jazeera and wire services