The world's most famous baby met the world yesterday.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left St Mary's Hospital with their infant about 27 hours after he was born, stepping into national celebrations and a media frenzy.
It was the first glimpse of the little prince, wrapped in a shawl, and the first of what are likely to be innumerable pictures to come throughout his life.
There were snatched glimpses of his face, the top of his head - which appeared reddish blond - and his tiny hands flexing in the evening light.
The duchess carried him out, then Prince William took him in his arms. The couple and the newborn emerged from the door of the hospital's Lindo Wing, where the media has been waiting since July 1, to overwhelming flashes of light from the cameras, shouts from reporters and cheers from a throng of onlookers.
''He has a good pair of lungs on him,'' Prince William said, barely audible above the noise of the crowd.
''He's a big boy. He's quite heavy.''
The baby weighed 3.8kg (8lb 6oz).
''It was very emotional, it is such a special time; any parent knows what this feeling is like,'' Catherine (31) added.
Prince William noted they were ''still working on a name''.
Royal heirs - this prince is third in line to the Throne - typically have at least three names and often four. He will be known as HRH Prince (name) of Cambridge, for his parents' titles, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Prince William joked he would remind his son of his ''tardiness'' when he was older. Catherine's due date was supposed to be mid-July, so he was about a week late.
Both parents looked relaxed, happy, glowing and impeccable.
''He's got her looks, thankfully,'' Prince William joked.
There was speculation the duchess' cornflower blue Jenny Packham polka dot dress was a sentimental tribute to the smock her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, wore after giving birth to William.
After showing the baby to the public, the couple went back inside, put the baby in a car seat and re-emerged to load a black Range Rover. When they headed home, William was driving and Catherine was in the back seat with the baby.
The Queen later visited Kensington Palace for her first meeting with her third great-grandchild.
Earlier, both sets of grandparents visited the baby in hospital - Carole and Michael Middleton first, followed by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall.
''He's absolutely beautiful,'' Carole Middleton said.
''Marvellous!'' Prince Charles said.
Prince William (31), who is not a fan of the media and has long sought as much privacy as possible for his family, seemed cheerful as he spoke a few words to the army of journalists outside the hospital.
He acknowledged the time the journalists had spent outside the hospital, promised a name for the baby soon and suggested subtly he would be pleased if the new family could be left alone for at least a while.
