The Westcountry welcomed a Royal arrival yesterday as the world waited for news after the Duchess of Cambridge was taken to hospital in labour.
Prince Edward was in Devon to officially open the £28 million Torquay Academy and the £5.6 million Haven Banks activity centre in Exeter. Staff and students were "bowled over" at the Earl of Wessex's visit but kept questions about the impending Royal birth to themselves.
"This was our day," Academy principal Gill Battye said. "We didn't want to ask about the Royal baby because it is a family matter."
The Royal visit began just hours after the announcement from Kensington Palace that the Duchess of Cambridge had been admitted to hospital in the early stages of labour.
Kate and husband Prince William arrived at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London by car just before 6am. A spokesman added that "things are progressing as normal". Well-wishers gathered outside Buckingham Palace and the hospital as the nation waited for news on the baby who will be third in line to the throne.