Royal baby makes first appearance

The UK's Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, emerged from St. Mary's hospital Tuesday afternoon with their newborn son, eliciting cheers from the assembled crowd as the couple gave the world a glimpse of their swaddled newborn son.

After about a minute of smiling at the throng and remarking about the "emotional" birth and the baby boy's head of hair, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge -- as they became formally known at their wedding -- retreated back into the hospital.

While they showed off their baby, the couple told the crowd that they are still working on a name for their son, Reuters reported.

The event was preceded by hours of live coverage by international television networks of the hospital’s door, waiting for the royal pair to emerge with the baby.

The newborn, who is the firstborn child to the Duke and Duchess, is now third in line to the British throne, replacing William's brother Prince Harry, who now slips to fourth in line behind the day old child.

"He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure," William also told the assembled media, according to Agence France Press. After returning to the hospital and grabbing a car seat, the couple situated the baby and Prince William drove them home to Kensington Palace.

Al Jazeera and wire services