Beyonc's baby joy

Star welcomes daughter, Blue Ivy, with Jay-Z...

11:12 09 January 2012

The most anticipated showbiz baby has finally made her appearance into the world.

Pop-star Beyonc and her rapper husband Jay-Z welcomed their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter on 7 January.

The baby was born by scheduled caesarean section, after the superstar couple reportedly rented out a whole floor of the Lennox Hill hospital in New York, where security has been extremely tight.

Despite rumours that Beyonc had given birth over a week ago, she was seen out and about just days after still looking heavily pregnant.

However, a host of twitter posts from close friends confirm that this latest bit of baby news is not a rumour.

Gwyneth Paltrow, a close friend of the couple, took to the social networking site to send her congratulations, posting: 

"Welcome to the world baby Blue! We love you already."

Several other celebrities congratulated the pair on their new arrival, with Beyoncs sister, Solange Knowles posting:

"The most beautiful girl in the world."

Jay-Z and Beyonc wed in 2008, with the popstar announcing her pregnancy back in August 2011.