Princess Mary gives birth to twins

Denmark's Princess Mary is "doing well" after giving birth to twins.

Her husband, Crown Prince Frederik, announced the arrival of a baby boy and girl on Saturday (08.01.11) morning at Copenhagen's Rigshospitalet hospital.

He said: "It's a miracle. It's two small hearts to keep an eye on," before adding his Australian-born wife was "doing well".

The 38-year-old princess was admitted to hospital early on Saturday morning, accompanied by her husband.

Their son, weighing five pounds, 14 ounces was delivered first, followed by his sister, weighing five pounds, 10 ounces, 26 minutes later.

The babies' names will not be revealed until their mother announces them at their christening in three months' time.

However the prince joked during his public statement that he wanted to call his son Elvis, after hearing the twins shared their birthday with the famous singer Elvis Presley.

The newborns - who are fourth and fifth in line to the throne after their older siblings Prince Christian, five, and Princess Isabella, three - are expected to leave hospital later this week for their family home Amalienborg Palace.

Mary has been visited by her parents-in-law Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik as well as her father, Professor John Donaldson.

The palace said in an official statement that Mary had become the proud mother of "two fine children" and "both mother and children are doing well".