Royal mums leaving hospital with their babies in 14 historic photos

The Princess Royal was the one who started the traditional photocall on the famous steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London following the birth of her son, Peter Phillips, in November 1977. The new mum wore a button-up overcoat with a printed headscarf as one of the midwives carried her newborn son to the car waiting outside.

Prince William’s birth in 1982 caused much excitement from the public and the press, with new mum Diana beaming shyly in a teal polka dot smock dress as Charles presented their baby boy to the world.

It would be nearly three decades before another royal mum emerged from the Lindo Wing with a future heir in her arms. The media were camped outside the hospital for two weeks in anticipation of the birth of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s first child. Little George finally made his public debut the day after his birth on 23 July 2013, with new mum Kate glowing in a blue polka dot Jenny Packham dress

The Princess continued the tradition for Princess Charlotte’s arrival in 2015, this time wearing a white and yellow floral frock by Jenny Packham.

And for Prince Louis’ birth in 2018, Kate appeared to echo her late mother-in-law’s maternity look in a red dress with an oversized white collar.

While the Lindo Wing is a popular choice for expectant royal mums, the likes of Sarah, Duchess of York, the Duchess of Sussex and Princess Eugenie have chosen The Portland Hospital in London. First-time mum Sarah opted to pose outside the private maternity unit in the City of Westminster with her daughter, Princess Beatrice, in 1988.

And for Princess Eugenie’s birth two years later, the Duchess chose a bold white and pink military-style jacket with a black skirt.

It’s not just the British royals who have chosen to do photocalls with their newborns – Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa greeted the media outside King Hussein Medical Center in Amman, with little Princess Iman sleeping soundly in her baby carrier in August 2024.

Then Crown Princess Mary of Denmark beamed with pride as she left Rigs Hospitalet with first child, Crown Prince Christian, in October 2005.

The Swedish royal palace shared a rare photograph of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel as they prepared to leave the maternity unit at Karolinska University Hospital with baby Prince Oscar in 2016, accompanied by his big sister, Princess Estelle.

Queen Letizia of Spain looked incredibly elegant in a taupe trouser suit as she presented baby Princess Leonor to the world in November 2005.

And the Spanish queen followed suit with the arrival of second daughter, Infanta Sofia in 2007, with big sister Leonor in her father King Felipe’s arms as they left the maternity ward.