The Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a baby son weighing 7lbs 3oz and mother and child are doing well, the Duke of Sussex has announced.

Prince Harry said they were both ‘absolutely thrilled’.

Speaking from Windsor he said: “I’m very excited to announce that Meghan and myself had a baby boy this morning, a very healthy baby boy.”

Harry, who was present for the birth at 5.26am added: "It's been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined.

"How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.

"We're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everybody out there, it's been amazing, so we just wanted to share this with everybody."

Harry said the couple were "still thinking about names" for their son.

He said: "The baby was a little bit overdue so we've had a little bit of time to think about it.

"That's the next bit."

The baby will be seventh in line to the throne and the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's eighth great-grandchild, and a fourth grandchild for the Prince of Wales.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer have been informed and are "delighted with the news", the palace said.

The statement added that the Duchess's mother Doria Ragland "who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild" was with the couple at Frogmore Cottage.

Meghan was last seen on an official engagement on March 19 when she signed a book of condolences in London with Harry for the victims of the Christchurch terror attack.

The American former actress and the duke moved into their renovated home Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate at the beginning of April, as they prepared for their baby's arrival.

Meghan went into labour this morning, a palace spokesman said: "The Duchess went into labour in the early hours of this morning.

"The Duke of Sussex was by Her Royal Highnesses' side.”

Harry's trip to Amsterdam and overnight stay away on Wednesday was cancelled on Friday, with Buckingham Palace saying it was due to logistical concerns surrounding press coverage of royal events, rather than baby Sussex.

The duke and duchess's Instagram account @SussexRoyal also announced the birth saying: "It's a boy! Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to announce the birth of their child."

Prince Harry said he planned to make another announcement in two days' time "so everyone can see the baby".

He added: "I haven't been at many births.

"This is definitely my first birth - it was amazing, absolutely incredible.

"I'm so incredibly proud of my wife.

"And as every father and parent would say, your baby is absolutely amazing.

"But this little thing is absolutely to-die-for so I'm absolutely over the moon."

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Congratulations to Meghan and Harry on the birth of their baby. I hope they're all doing well. #royalbaby"

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted her congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

She wrote: "The birth of a baby is a joyful occasion - congratulations to Harry and Meghan."