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Hat-trick of boys for Beckhams

Victoria and David Beckham are celebrating the birth of their third son who they have called Cruz, meaning cross in Spanish.

The baby, who is the couple's third son, was born by caesarean section in Madrid at 1040 local time (0940 GMT) on Sunday.

The couple said they were "delighted" at the safe arrival of the 7lb baby, brother to Brooklyn, 5, and Romeo, 2.

The Real Madrid and England star said, "He's gorgeous, healthy and his mum is very good so we're a very happy family. He's got Victoria's lips and nose."

Asked about the name, he said it was "just a name we like", adding "We found it hard this time but we found a name we liked and stuck with it."

Dr Vidal Pelaez, head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at the hospital, said "Mother and child are in perfect health. Medical intervention lasted 30 minutes with no complications whatsoever."

Cruz is a common surname in Spain and South America but is an unusual first name, according to Lola Oria, Spanish language tutor at Oxford University.

Bookmakers William Hill are offering odds of 100/1 that Cruz Beckham will play for England one day and 1,000/1 that all three boys will get into the England team.

In November, Victoria reportedly said she was abandoning her music career to concentrate on fashion designing and motherhood.

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