22 July 2013 Last updated at 07:33 GMT
Royal baby: Pregnant Kate taken to hospital
The duchess's due date had never been officially announcedThe Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to hospital and is in the early stages of labour, Kensington Palace has said.
She travelled by car from the palace to St Mary's in Paddington, west London, with her husband the Duke of Cambridge.
The couple do not know the sex of their first child, who will be third in line to the throne.
The BBC's Nick Witchell said there was likely to be no more news until the official announcement of the birth.
The world's press have been camped outside St Mary's for days in anticipation of the birth. The due date had never been officially announced but had widely been expected to be mid-July.
Royal vehicles were seen at a back entrance to the hospital at about 06:00 BST, with the announcement coming from Kensington Palace an hour-and-a-half later.
The duchess is being tended by a top medical team led by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's two children.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's first child will be third in line to the British throne
Assisting him is Alan Farthing, the former fiance of murdered TV presenter Jill Dando and the Queen's current gynaecologist.
The Duke of Cambridge has been with his wife on annual leave and will have two weeks' paternity leave.
It is believed the next time the couple will be seen in public is when they appear on the steps of the hospital with their baby.
The way the birth will be announced is steeped in tradition. It is custom for news of royal births and deaths to be attached to the railings of Buckingham Palace but in this case, it will be displayed on an ornate easel in the forecourt of the palace.
The Queen, senior members of the Royal Family, and the duchess's family - if they are not at the hospital - will be told about the birth first.
- Peter Hunt @BBCPeterHunt
Kate's medical team includes the royal gynaecologists Marcus Setchell and Alan Farthing. #RoyalBaby
- Peter Hunt @BBCPeterHunt
Royal officials will not comment on whether or not the Duchess -- who is one week past her due date -- will have to be induced. #RoyalBaby
- Peter Hunt @BBCPeterHunt
According to Kate's spokesman, " things are progressing as normal". #RoyalBaby
- Peter Hunt @BBCPeterHunt
Duchess of Cambridge went in to the private Lindo Wing at just before 6am. #RoyalBaby
- Peter Hunt @BBCPeterHunt
The royal statement contains 45 words. All there will be to sustain the world's media until the baby is born. #RoyalBaby
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Then a royal aide will take the bulletin, signed by key medical staff, from the hospital to the palace under police escort.
After the note is displayed, an announcement will be posted on Twitter and Facebook, and the media will be informed.
Under new laws to succession the baby will remain third in line to the throne regardless of gender.
The couple announced they were expecting their first child in December after the duchess was admitted to hospital suffering from severe morning sickness.
Since the announcement, the duchess has carried out 19 days of public engagements before going on maternity leave in the middle of June.
Catherine's final public appearance before the birth was at the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011, watched on television by hundreds of millions of people around the world.
Are you or any of your friends and family due to give birth today? Let us know if your baby shares the royal birth date