Friends Welcome Birth Of Beyonce's Baby

Friends of the American singer Beyonce have welcomed the birth of her first child, a baby girl.

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who is a close friend of the singer and her husband Jay-Z, wrote on Twitter: "Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already."

Amid confusion about the order of the baby's name, Paltrow also confirmed that the little girl has been called Blue Ivy Carter.

Friend and music mogul Russell Simmons was also among the first to congratulate the couple on the new arrival, tweeting: "Congrats to my good friends Beyonce and Jay-Z."

Singer Rihanna tweeted: "Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih."

And Take That star Gary Barlow wrote: "Congrats to Beyonce and Jay-Z on the birth of their first child Blue Ivy... Special moment!"

Beyonce's sister Solange also tweeted that the new arrival was "the most beautiful girl in the world".

Beyonce, 30, is believed to have checked in to the Lenox Hill hospital on Friday night under the alias Ingrid Jackson.

She had rented out the whole of the fourth floor for $1.3m (£840,000) and gave birth in a private wing, according to the New York Daily News.

E! News reported that it had been a scheduled Caesarean section.

People were reportedly seen bringing bags of takeaway food and a dozen bottles of red wine into the heavily-guarded hospital wing on the Upper East Side on Saturday night.

It was claimed even doctors and nurses were barred from entering the fourth floor after 11pm, prompting one to complain that he had patients to see.

Hospital workers were said to have put tape over security cameras and were forcing employees to hand in their mobiles to stop photographs being leaked.

Beyonce's husband, rapper Jay-Z, 42, whose real name is Shawn Carter, is reported to have been at his wife's side for the birth.

The couple got married in April 2008 after dating for around six years.

In November, Jay-Z told E! News: "Your child could come to you and have any type of conversation. I always hope for that kind of open relationship."

Former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland appeared to let slip the baby's sex in an interview in the same month.

Rowland said: "I have no idea what I'm going to buy Beyonce at the baby shower because Jay is going to buy that little girl every single thing possible.

"She won't be spoiled but she will be very well looked-after."