Britain has a new princess — and eagerly awaits her name

3. Prince George

4. As-yet unnamed princess born Saturday

From Prince Charles to royal fans to most of those who put down a bet, millions in Britain were hoping for a girl.

The Duchess of Cambridge delighted her nation and royal enthusiasts around the world Saturday by delivering the anticipated princess. The royal birth was greeted with cheers and cries of “Hip, hip, hooray!” outside St. Mary’s Hospital in London, where fans and the world’s media have waited for days.

The baby — Prince William and Kate’s second child — weighed 8 pounds 3 ounces, officials said. She is fourth in line to the throne and the fifth great-grandchild of 89-year-old Queen Elizabeth II. Britain hasn’t welcomed a princess born this high up the line of succession for decades.

It may be a day or two before the world knows what to call her. When Prince George, her older brother, was born in 2013, royal officials waited two days before announcing his name.

Speculation about the new royal’s name has been frenetic, and all the top bets for the baby’s name have been for girls: Alice and Charlotte are the clear favorites, followed by Elizabeth, Victoria and Diana — all names with strong royal connections. Royal children are usually given several names — the baby’s brother was christened George Alexander Louis — so the princess’s name could incorporate more than one of those guesses.

Anticipation had been building for weeks after Kate, 33, told a well-wisher she was due in late April. Still, journalists were caught slightly off guard when she delivered barely three hours after checking into the hospital at dawn Saturday. William, 32, was present at the birth.

The couple later emerged on the hospital steps with the infant to briefly pose for photographers before leaving for their home at nearby Kensington Palace.

William earlier told reporters he was “very happy” as he brought young George to the hospital to meet his baby sister. George, looking slightly alarmed by all the cameras, waved dutifully at the adoring crowds.

The queen and senior royals were “delighted with the news,” officials said.

The birth was announced on social media sites like Twitter as well as by a traditional bulletin on a gilded easel in front of Buckingham Palace — a practice that dates to 1837.

A town crier in an elaborate costume — with no official connection to the royal family — shouted out the news at the hospital’s door, clanging his bell to welcome the new royal.

“May our princess be long-lived, happy and glorious,” said Tony Appleton, reading from a scroll in a booming voice.

The last princess born so close to the throne was Princess Anne, the queen’s second child, in 1950.

Thanks to a recent change in the law, the new princess will hold her place in the line of succession that for centuries had put boys ahead of their sisters. That means no younger brother will be able to overtake the new princess in the order of preference to inherit the throne.