As the world eagerly awaits news the Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labour, we uncover 15 little-known facts surrounding the birth of the baby of the decade.
1. KATE’S PUSH PRESENT: Some wealthy men buy their wives a diamond ring as a “push present” when they give birth — William has reportedly bought Kate a luxury villa on the exclusive Caribbean island of Mustique, where the couple have enjoyed many luxurious beach holidays.
2. EXTRA HOLY WATER: Ordinary tap water will not suffice when the baby is baptised — the Archbishop of London ships water directly from the River Jordan for all royal baptisms.
3. DESIGNER DUDS: Whatever the gender, the Baby of Cambridge will be decked out in designer gear from the very beginning — its christening gown will be custom-made by the Queen’s designer Angela Kelly and will be a replica of the dress worn by Queen Victoria’s daughter Victoria.
4. HYPNOBIRTH?: Kate is reportedly opting for a hypno-birth, a drug-free technique that focuses on meditation, breathing exercises and visualisation techniques to reduce pain and anxiety.
5. 22ND CENTURY KING OR QUEEN: If the baby lives to be as old as Queen Elizabeth (87) it will become the first monarch of the 22nd century.
6. ANOTHER GINGER? Although the baby will likely have Kate’s dark hair, bookmakers are offering 7/1 odds it will have ginger locks like Uncle Harry.
7. OFFICIAL ANNOUNCMENT: The birth will not be announced in a press release or televised address but with a special notice posted on a wooden easel by the front gates of Buckingham Palace, continuing the tradition started when William was born in 1982.
8. YOGA MUM: Kate has reportedly become a yoga devotee during her pregnancy. The Duchess took up the hobby to increase her flexibility in preparation for the birth and to help her regain her figure afterwards.
9. BABY BONUS: The birth of the baby is expected to boost the global economy by more than $425 million.
10. MONARCH MAKING HISTORY: The Queen will also be making history when she meets the new arrival — the last monarch to meet a great-grandchild in direct line to the throne was Queen Victoria.
11. NO NANNY: Breaking with royal tradition, Kate has shunned hired help and will be relying on her mother Carole Middleton to assist her in the first weeks after the child’s birth. She will be the first royal woman to get by without a fulltime nanny in generations.
12. PRINCE OF WALES: If the baby is a boy, he may have the same title as his grandfather Prince Charles. The Prince of Wales is traditionally given to the male heir to the throne. It is not known what title a female heir would inherit.
13. BALMORAL BREAK: The Queen has invited William, Kate and baby to Balmoral for a week of rest and recuperation after the birth.
14. WHAT’S IN A NAME?: The favourite name for a girl is Alexandra, for a boy, George.
15. COMMON GROUND: The baby will be the first heir in more than 300 years to have a commoner for a mother.
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