She’s the future queen but the Duchess of Cambridge is not too posh to push. Royal sources have revealed Kate is hoping for a natural birth at the London hospital where Princess Diana had William in 1982.
Kate, 31, is reportedly booked in to the state-of-the-art Lindo Ward of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
She will deliver her baby in one of the private hospital’s $16,000 birthing suites and is hoping for a natural birth, which makes her a rarity among high profile London women who usually opt for an elective caesarean.
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William is determined to be present at the birth and a special helicopter is said to be on standby at his RAF base in Anglesey, Wales, to rush him to London if Kate goes into labour.
“He very much plans to be at the birth but between now and then will also be on and off duty in North Wales, meaning he might have to get there rather swiftly,” a source told the UK’s Daily Mail.
“It could be by train or car if he is up in Anglesey but should a helicopter be available then that is also a strong possibility.”
Kate’s mother Carole Middleton and sister Pippa will also be present at the hospital to support the Duchess if William doesn’t make it in time.
After the birth, William will have two weeks’ paternity leave before returning to his normal shift pattern. Kate will not be returning to their rented farmhouse in Anglesey however. She and baby will move to her parents’ Berkshire home for six weeks before returning to the humble two-bedroom cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace that has been the couple’s city home since their 2011 marriage.
As for the sex of the baby, royal insiders claim the couple genuinely don’t know, and will not find out.
William and Kate are reportedly looking forward to a surprise, and asked not to be told about the sex so they couldn’t accidentally let it slip.
When Kate goes into labour, Clarence House and Buckingham Palace will announce the news on their Twitter accounts (once she has been admitted to hospital and been seen by a doctor), but the actual birth will be telegraphed with a little more pomp and circumstance.
As happened when William was born in 1982, an announcement will be printed on special stationary and signed by the delivery room doctors, including the Queen’s Surgeon-Gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell and the Royal Household’s official Surgeon-gynaecologist, Alan Farthing.
It will then be rushed to Buckingham Palace under police escort, where it will be displayed on an easel by the front gates.
Diana, Charles and baby William on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
The sign announcing William’s birth erected outside Buckingham Palace.
The notice announcing William’s birth read: “Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales was safely delivered a son at 9.05pm today. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well.”
“We wanted to retain some of the theatre of the notice,” a source said. “It is quite important to us that this is done properly and with the degree of dignity that the event demands.
“This is the birth of a child who will be in line to the throne. It is a rare occasion and it is nice to be able to do it with some historical precedence.”
After the sign has been posted, Kensington Palace will send out an email press release that will divulge important details like the baby’s weight and other details. The release after William’s birth revealed he had blue eyes and had “cried lustily” as he was handed to his parents.
However, if the baby is born between 10.30pm and 8am, the new will be emailed first, with the easel being erected later that morning at around 9am.
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“If the baby is born late at night, it would be unreasonable not to tell anyone [and] we wouldn’t run around with a police escort at 3am,” the source said. “We would be slightly disappointed not to announce it on the easel first, but would still put the notice up the next morning.”
William is also planning to address the media from the steps of the hospital.
“While it is a deeply personal and private event, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge realise this is a time of national celebration and that there will be vast interest in the baby. They realise many people will want to share in their happiness,” a spokesman said.
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