Okay, okay. So we’ve been asking that question for a while now.
Since the beginning of the month and particularly since the Duchess’ reported July 13 due date passed with no sign of the heir’s arrival, royal baby watchers have been on high alert.
But now The Daily Telegraph seems to think we had it wrong all along and the first child of Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, could be due to make its royal entrance today.
The London broadsheet now says “well-placed sources” have disclosed that staff at St Mary’s Hospital, where the royal baby is to be born, were told the date was July 19, which is still in line with the palace’s only confirmation that d-day would be “mid July”.
“A small number of staff at St Mary’s who might be called upon when the Duchess gives birth were told they had to remain teetotal for a month before the Duchess’s due date,” the Tele quotes a source as saying.
“They were told the due date was July 19, meaning they couldn’t drink from June 19 onwards.
“Only a handful of people were told, because there are very few hospital staff who might be needed in the case of an emergency.”
No doubt those handful of people are eagerly awaiting the arrival, as is the rest of the world.
Also itching for a celebratory ale are members of the media who have been stationed outside the Paddington hospital’s Lindo Wing, where the Duchess is due to give birth.
The ever-growing press pack is growing weary of the wait, and late last night their royal baby watch exhaustion turned into paranoia, with fears journalists and camera crews had set up camp in the wrong spot.
Following reports that Kate had spent the weekend at her parents’ country home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, The Telegraph reports royal aides have confirmed that while the Duchess is planning to have her baby in the private Lindo Wing at St Mary’s in Paddington, “a contingency plan for her birth at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, where she was born in 1982, remains in place”.
If Kate goes into Labour at her family home, it is likely she would be sent to the nearby hospital rather than taking the long trip to London, meaning the press could miss their long awaited photo op.
“It is still a possibility that she could give birth there, though that would only be in extremis, as the expectation is that she will go to St Mary’s.”
So the press pack stays at their stations.
Our favourite royal watchers, Margaret and Terry, are staying put too. The very dedicated 59-year-old Terry Hutt has spent his seventh night on a wooden bench opposite the Lindo Wing’s entrance and he’ll stay there for “as long as it takes”, he told The Weekly.
Mr Hutt says he doesn’t mind the wait and it gives his wife a break from him.
While the press, royal watchers, and members of the royal family including the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall are eagerly awaiting the birth, some are not so enthused.
The Queen’s cousin, 88-year-old Margaret Rhodes has had to be coaxed into celebratory mode by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, whom she told she wasn’t the least bit excited about the baby.
“Everybody has babies, and it’s lovely. But I don’t get wildly excited.” she said, before an incredulous Amanpour reminded her of the significance of the heir’s arrival.
After an incredulous Amanpour reminded her of the significance of the heir’s arrival Ms Rhodes reluctantly admitted “yes all right, I’m prepared to be excited”.
London businesses are also preparing contingency plans for when the royal arrival commences, which will first be confirmed by the palace “when the Duchess is safely admitted to hospital”, a royal official told The Weekly.
Baby superstore Mothercare on London’s bustling Oxford St has a team at the ready to completely change the store’s setup to mark the royal arrival, with their back of store reserves stocked full of royally themed gifts and babywear, waiting to launch an extravagent display as soon as the birth is announced.
“It will take us about an hour and the store will look nothing like it does now,” a staff member told The Weekly.
“If people haven’t heard about the birth by then, they’ll know if they see the [store’s] window.”
Until the announcement comes and the royal easel announcing details of the baby’s birth is erected outside Buckingham Palce, the great Kate wait continues.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all your royal baby news from Liz Burke in London.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
