30 JANUARY 2003
Catwalk queen Claudia Schiffer and her husband, film producer Matthew Vaughn, have welcomed their first child, a spokesperson for the couple announced on Thursday.

The as-yet-unnamed baby boy, who weighed in at 7lbs, was born at London's exclusive Portland Hospital by Caesarean section. "Both parents are utterly thrilled at the birth of their first child and both mother and baby are doing very well," said the representative.

The supermodel was admitted to hospital for a "planned Caesarean birth" earlier in the day, accompanied by her husband. A natural delivery had been ruled out by doctors after the slender blonde ended up with her foot in plaster after breaking it in an accident late last year.

In the weeks leading up to the happy arrival, Claudia revealed she is thrilled to have started a new life with her hubby of nine months. "Being married has far exceeded my expectations," she says. "I have never been this happy and in love."

And now, with a new addition to the family, the millionaire model has just one goal in sight: "To be a good mother."