30 OCTOBER 2003
Sir Paul McCartney's wife Heather Mills has given birth to a baby girl.

Beatrice Milly McCartney was born at the Hospital of St John and St Elizabeth in London. The new arrival, who wasn't due until next month, was delivered by Caesarean section late on Tuesday night.

"The baby, who arrived three weeks early, weighed in at a healthy 7lbs and both she and mum are doing well," said a statement released by the couple. "She is a little beauty and we couldn't be prouder."

The child is named after Heather's mother Beatrice and Sir Paul's aunt Milly.

She is 35-year-old Heather's first child. Her dad already has three children - James, 25, Mary, 33, and fashion designer Stella, 31 - from his marriage to Linda, who died in 1998.

Just a few weeks ago the couple appeared on US television and revealed that they already knew the child's sex. "It's our one little secret," said Heather. "We know what it is and we know the name, because I don't like calling it 'it' every day… I think any baby you have is going to be a huge surprise."