Baby joy for UK PM

Reuters

YOU BEAUTY: British Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha have welcomed their fourth child into the world.

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Eighteen months after burying his six-year-old son Ivan, beaming British Prime Minister David Cameron has welcomed the early arrival of his "unbelievably beautiful" baby daughter.

Mr Cameron's wife Samantha gave birth to the couple's fourth child on Tuesday during their family holiday in the English seaside county of Cornwall, the bundle of joy weighing in at 2.7kg at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

She had not been due to arrive until next month.

Mr Cameron, 43, is only the second serving UK prime minister to become a new father in 161 years, the most recent being Tony Blair with his son Leo being born in 2000.

The Camerons tragically lost their son Ivan in February last year, the little boy being born with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and his profound disability has influenced the Tory leader's politics.

The then opposition leader hinted earlier this year that he wanted another child and news of his wife's pregnancy emerged just a few weeks before the general election was called on May 6.

Now three months after forming government with the Liberal Democrats, Mr Cameron has an extra responsibility to fit into his hectic schedule.

"It was very exciting, we were on holiday, thought we were going to get through the holiday and then have a baby, and then it just seemed to kick off a bit quickly," Mr Cameron said.

"Samantha woke up this morning and thought she was having contractions and it was all beginning to get going, so we thought we would come to the hospital just to get everything checked out, and then things sort of sped up and it all happened very, very quickly and the baby popped out at about 12 o'clock."

"It was a bit of a shock."

The Cameron's two other children are six-year-old Nancy and four-year-old Arthur Elwen.

Mr Cameron said he was "in for suggestions" for names.

"It was very exciting having a baby in Cornwall, we'll have to have something Cornish in there somewhere," he said.

"I've got the book out, Samantha's having a look through and she'll decide, I'm sure, before long."

His other two children were "thrilled, bouncing up and down, and dying to say hello to the new baby", he said.

Mr Cameron had been expected to return to work next week but may now choose to take paternity leave.

Downing Street has been home to plenty of youngsters in recent times.

Former PM Gordon Brown's two sons, John Macaulay and James Fraser Brown also grew up on the street, having been born while their father was chancellor.

And Mr Blair's four children, Euan, Nicky, Kathryn and Leo all spent their formative years in the famous street.

- AAP