William, Kate present baby as they leave hospital

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their first public appearance Tuesday evening after the birth of their son, holding the still-unnamed boy to cheers from a crowd outside St. Mary’s Hospital.

The public got its first view of the new heir to the British throne Tuesday as Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, left a London hospital hospital with their newborn son.

“It’s very special,” said Prince William, who emerged from St. Mary’s Hospital with his wife, Kate, a day after the birth of his son. He joked: “He’s got her looks, thankfully.”

The couple will leave St. Mary’s hospital Tuesday evening with the boy, who was born Monday, Kensington Palace said. A name has not yet been announced for the child, who is third in line to the British throne.

“Their Royal Highnesses would like to reiterate their thanks to the hospital for the care and treatment they have all received,” a statement from the palace read.

The royal baby was born at 4:24 p.m. Monday, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces. The new parents remained in the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London overnight.

They could appear holding their son on the same steps where Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prince Charles gave the world its first sighting of Prince William 31 years ago. Charles came to the hospital for a brief visit with his first grandchild Tuesday evening, accompanied by his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. He told reporters it was “marvelous.”

Catherine’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, visited earlier, with Carole Middleton telling reporters the royal baby is “absolutely beautiful.”

She said both mother and baby are doing “really well” and that she and her husband were “so thrilled” at being grandparents.