I've just watched the Wimbledon final (congratulations Andy!) and have been checking for updates on the Duchess, who as an avid tennis fan, quite possibly watched the historic final which saw the incredibly talented Andy Murray become the first British man to take the title in 77 years.
![]() |
Wimbledon Facebook Page |
Royal baby fever has truly been in full swing for the past week and we had our first 'false alarm' last night when a tweeter reported her friend, a patient at St Mary's, had heard Kate had arrived at the hospital in labour; however it turned out to be nothing more than a rumour. Needless to say there was quite the flurry of excitement among royal watchers.
![]() |
@HRHDuchessKate Twitter Feed |
Royal reporters are on tenterhooks awaiting the all important phone call confirming the news we've all been waiting for since December.
![]() |
@SkyNewsRoyal Twitter Feed |
The media pens have been organised.
![]() |
@SkyNewsRoyal Twitter Feed |
A look at the scene outside the Lindo wing.
![]() |
@DavidWilkinsonCNN Twitter Feed |
Last Friday, a privately chartered helicopter landed near William and Kate's farmhouse in Anglesey, North Wales, where William is currently working as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot. The 175 mph Sikorsky S-76c chopper remains on standby to rush William to Kate's side in under two hours.
More from the The Mirror:
As the speculative July 13th date approaches one of William's colleagues has been lined up to take over his shifts as he expects to have very little notice when the big moment arrives. Contingency plans are in place in case bad weather grounds the helicopter. A Palace spokesman confirmed train and road were still being considered. Meanwhile, the Duchess has been staying with her parents in Bucklebury, Berkshire. If there is an emergency she will be taken to the hospital via ambulance or even air ambulance but she hopes to make the journey to St Mary's by car.
Meanwhile, staff at St Mary's are preparing for 'EVENT SO601867' (the birth of Baby Cambridge) with staff determined to keep updates as secretive as possible referring to the Duchess as "their special client". The front windows have been hastily frosted and last Monday, Kate made a visit for a private check up - somehow managing to evade the photographers' lenses and camera crews camped out outside.
Kate's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell is on standby and hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in weeks in preparation for the big arrival. The 70-year-old has joked that he might return from retirement to deliver William and Kate's other children!
There are a number of interesting articles in the press at the moment well worth reading including A regal chance to prove working and babies DO mix:
I particularly enjoyed The Telegraph's: Kate can be a model of modern motherhood:
Speaking of silver pennies, babies born on the same day as Baby Cambridge will receive a lucky silver penny the Royal Mint announced earlier this week. An average of 1,983 children are born in the UK each day, so 2,013 of the commemorative coins have been struck to ensure there are enough. The coins are worth £28 but parents can obtain one free by registering their child's birth on the Royal Mint's Facebook Page.
The Telegraph reports Baby Cambridge has received his/her first wedding invitation.
Now, it's simply a matter of waiting. We'll see William and Kate with their little one very soon :)
Share your thoughts and excitement by commenting!
![]() |
Daily Mail/fpnw |
More from the The Mirror:
'William will want to fly because it avoids any traffic snarl-ups or train delays. He's promised Kate he will be there. It just shows how serious he is about being a modern father. William has vowed to "move heaven and earth" to be with his wife when she has their child in the private Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital.'
As the speculative July 13th date approaches one of William's colleagues has been lined up to take over his shifts as he expects to have very little notice when the big moment arrives. Contingency plans are in place in case bad weather grounds the helicopter. A Palace spokesman confirmed train and road were still being considered. Meanwhile, the Duchess has been staying with her parents in Bucklebury, Berkshire. If there is an emergency she will be taken to the hospital via ambulance or even air ambulance but she hopes to make the journey to St Mary's by car.
Meanwhile, staff at St Mary's are preparing for 'EVENT SO601867' (the birth of Baby Cambridge) with staff determined to keep updates as secretive as possible referring to the Duchess as "their special client". The front windows have been hastily frosted and last Monday, Kate made a visit for a private check up - somehow managing to evade the photographers' lenses and camera crews camped out outside.
![]() |
Daily Mail |
Kate's gynaecologist Marcus Setchell is on standby and hasn't touched a drop of alcohol in weeks in preparation for the big arrival. The 70-year-old has joked that he might return from retirement to deliver William and Kate's other children!
************
There are a number of interesting articles in the press at the moment well worth reading including A regal chance to prove working and babies DO mix:
'By showing her face in public, Kate will effectively be working in the family business. And by doing so, she will be sending a powerful message that women don't have to have a year's maternity leave if they don't want to after having children. It will prove that women in business don't have to face a glass ceiling because potential employers fear the disruption that long-term maternity leave would bring.'
I particularly enjoyed The Telegraph's: Kate can be a model of modern motherhood:
'If you could ask the Duchess of Cambridge her hopes for her first child, I'd bet a Royal Mint silver penny her answer would match Diana's for her oldest son: "The one thing his father and I absolutely agreed on was that William would have as normal an upbringing as possible".'
Speaking of silver pennies, babies born on the same day as Baby Cambridge will receive a lucky silver penny the Royal Mint announced earlier this week. An average of 1,983 children are born in the UK each day, so 2,013 of the commemorative coins have been struck to ensure there are enough. The coins are worth £28 but parents can obtain one free by registering their child's birth on the Royal Mint's Facebook Page.
![]() |
Royal Mint Facebook Page |
The Telegraph reports Baby Cambridge has received his/her first wedding invitation.
'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can look forward to taking their baby to his or her first wedding: their friend Lucy Meade is engaged. Lucy, who attended the royal wedding, is to marry Charlie Budgett, a bloodstock agent.'
Now, it's simply a matter of waiting. We'll see William and Kate with their little one very soon :)
Share your thoughts and excitement by commenting!
So excited, I can hardly wait!! ;)
ReplyDeleteMuch thanks for the informative blog & replys :) Congratulations to Andy!! So very refreshing to hear and talk about good, happy news, such as Baby Cambridge! I want to visit England soon!
DeleteAloha, from Maui Hawaii
AAAH Yes ANDY! Bet Kate wishes she could be there!! Can't wait for Baby Cambridge!
ReplyDeleteObviously I'm mildly excited myself :)
Hello Ms. Charlotte
ReplyDeleteAgain thank you for this great post. I am so excited about the birth of Baby Cambridge. I hope the beautiful Duchess has a safe & speedy birth. And I hope for her that William is either with her now or will be able to make the birth in time. It is the most exciting thing to see the birth of your first born.
If Catherine watched the tennis and bounced up and down as much as I did, maybe she will have the baby tonight.
ReplyDeleteHahahahaha, Jean! You made me laugh ;)
DeleteAna B. from Brazil
I was thinking the same thing, Jean from Lancs! Some of those missed points were enough to send any pregnant lady into labor, and you know she had to be watching. Well done, Andy! I'm sure Kate is more anxious to have her child than all of us put together.
DeleteJean, that's hilarious! That last set had me jumping too! :-)
DeleteCatherine from NJ, USA
DeleteI Can't wait for the Royal Baby to be born! I'm betting on a lovely little Princess. I hope the Duchess has a easy birth resulting in a healthy baby.
Omg this is the most waited for moment in the world. I would give anything to meet the Cambridge family. I hope the best for them and send love from indiana usa
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for the new addition! OMG I keep checking every several hours if Kate has been admitted. Yay! Baby almost here!
ReplyDeleteHow long is a typical maternity leave in the UK? In the US, it ranges from 6 weeks to 3 months. Anything longer is usually considered "extended leave".
ReplyDeleteAlso. I love your blog! Tasteful and informative! (And quick!)
Ur entitled to take up to a year. But only the first few weeks of it are paid. Polly bath.
DeleteIn Brazil, women can take 4 months. And the 4 months are paid.
DeleteAna B. from Brazil
Ah, then it is very similar to here (US). But with most companies here, anything after 3 months does not guarantee you can go back to the same job, so it's a bit of a risk. Of course, Kate won't have to worry much about that...
DeleteI can't wait!!! It is sooo exciting-although I'm sure the Duchess is feeling rather nervous...bet she can't wait for it to all be over! ��
ReplyDeleteI have to say that I most definitely have the royal baby fever!! I can't wait! I'm trying not to get too overly excited since it could be any time in the next couple weeks, really. I was 10 days late with my first, but then my sis-in-law was 3 weeks early with her first... you just never know!
ReplyDeleteThe picture of the inside of the hospital is very interesting. In regards to Kate hoping to take a car from her parents' home, about how far is Bucklebury from St. Mary's?
Thanks for keeping us updated Charlotte!!
Yes I have the.same.question how far is it from Bucklebury to the hospital?
ReplyDeleteThis is a bit nerve wracking, I can imagine how you all in England feel and the family members. Whoopeeee!
Also well done Andy. :)
I meant to write 75 minutes to Paddington, London where St Mary's is located :)
DeleteCharlotte, I believe the Today show here in the US reported today that she has been staying at KP rather than Bucklebury in order to be closer to the hospital. Where did you read she's camped at Bucklebury? Just curious.
DeleteHi Claire,
DeleteThere are numerous conflicting reports on that. I expect she's dividing her time between both, a couple of royal reporters said they believe she's in Bucklebury at the moment.
Her Prince Charming can land a helicopter in her backyard and whisk her away to London via air. Sweet thought at least! :-)
DeleteCongratulations Andy!!I'm curious, how would the Middleton family get in the hospital with the media camped outside?Thank you Charlotte for this post and I so look forward to getting news of the royal birth any day now!!!xoxo
ReplyDeleteI am almost more excited for Baby Cambridge to come than I was when my own children and grandchildren were born! I check on this blog nearly daily because you seem to have the most current and accurate information.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for doing this blog!
Mari Fritz, Utah, USA
Everyone is just so excited! I thought Baby Cambridge might be a little earlier, but probably July 13th is the right due date! We will see.
ReplyDeleteI'm just wondering that Kate is staying in Bucklebury until the arrival of the baby.
Do you think that we will definitely notice when Kate goes into labour? I don't think we will see her to get in, she also managed to get into the hospital on monday without the media noticing...
Carina from Germany
I thought that too! How did she manage to get in unnoticed and also how do we know that. Curious. Polly bath
ReplyDeleteIt will be officially announced that she has been admitted to the hospital. There is more than one side entrance and also a back entrance to St. Mary's.
DeleteDo we know for a fact she's in Bucklebury, which is about 54 miles from London, not including the distance and hassles of driving through the city once you get there. She'd get to hospital faster if she were at the Kensington Palace cottage the Cambridges have been using. Her mother could be staying with her there.
Wouldn't the press have all entrances covered with their journalists ?
DeleteThat depends on how the entrances are situated. If you have to cross hospital property (such as a parking lot) to get to any of them, the press could at least be kept at a substantial distance. I'm sure they've chosen an entrance that will allow for the greatest degree of privacy possible. And if she's lucky, she'll go into labor at night, when the media presence may be somewhat reduced.
DeleteI am literally hitting the refresh button way too much to be considered crazy :). Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteSo excited! Hitting the refresh on my computer so many times that I can't even hope to be labeled crazy :) congrats to Andy on the win from the states
ReplyDeleteI am sooo excited! Never checked this blog so often before :D Hope everything goes well :) And I do wonder how could Kate have managed to avoid all the paparazzi at St Mary's? And how do we know then she'd really been there?
ReplyDeleteAnd I did wonder too whether it is possible to send any wishes or greetings to the Cambridges? Is there some official e-mail adress or something like that? Thanks in advance ;)
ReplyDeleteHello Katka,
DeleteI believe the only way to contact the Cambridges is via letter http://www.royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/HowtocontactamemberofTheRoyalFamily/Overview.aspx
I'm so happy for Andy! He truly deserved it!
ReplyDeleteIf we are so excited about Baby Cambridge's arrival, one can only imagine how excited William and Catherine must be ;)
It is so great! I missed this anxiety! The last time it was for the Royal Wedding! But it was good to have an especific day to wait for!!
Hugs,
Ana B. from Brazil
As much as we all are excited for Baby Cambridge to be born, I will bet that no one is more eager for Kate's baby to be born and for Kate to get her body back than Kate herself.
ReplyDeleteColorado Eve
P.S. on the Lindo Wing diagram, I saw the stairs. Isn't there an elevator?
SO exciting!! I've been ill the last several days so am checking this site waaaay too frequently. :o)
ReplyDeleteI'm really hoping that Kate has been able to find some rest and peace during these last days of her pregnancy, and that she can feel all our prayers and good wishes. <3
I hope you're feeling better x
DeleteI hope you have a speedy recovery, my friend!
DeleteAna B. from Brazil
How kind! Thank you, dear ladies! :o)
DeleteJulie
It's going to be a boy.. Named Andy and it will be tonight.
ReplyDeleteSo excited! Keep checking your site. I hope they are able to get into the hospital w/o too much press, though I love seeing their photos! Keep it coming Charlotte, you do a wonderful job:)
ReplyDeleteHello All -
ReplyDeleteKQED PBS is showing 'Secrets of Althorp - The Spencers' @ 8PM PDT. Or, check pbs.org...
Congratulations to Andy! !!
Kudos to Charlotte - for keeping us updated - got my phone to ring loud @ clear each time you post! !! Thank you for all that you do for us Duchess fans! !!
How do you set up notification for each time Charlotte posts? Oh my, I'm checking frequently. Praying for a smooth, stress-free, healthy delivery!
DeleteThanks Kristin watching it now.All those awesome portraits. ....
DeleteHello, I know some people use Bloglovin now that google readers is gone :)
DeleteI just read those articles, Charlotte, and I have to say that I'm glad to have this blog to read/post comments. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite so vicious as some comments at the end of the Telegraph article. I'll never understand that level of spite. I quite reading DM comments, so I will this paper too.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, me too. Quite why Kate attracts such vitriol is beyond me. Even if some people don't approve of the Royal Family, there is no need to go to such levels of spite and sheer nastiness in their comments. I console myself with the thought that it's probably the same few hundred trolls who keep posting on the DM site and that most of the country thinks that Kate is great.
DeleteThere was a poll last week that gave the Monarchy an 85% approval rate, with Catherine the most popular member.
DeleteI suppose that must infuriate republicans, but some of the vitriol expressed is really mot acceptable.
Any update? Baby fever here in States too.
ReplyDeleteBtw congrats to andy murray you swing my feet away during the game you deserve it all your efforts paid out the excitement of duchess birth royal baby .. is now on the hit now im checking every minute and to your facebook and to your twitter up this well loved blog .. i hope you blog will not crashed when royal baby arrive ... andy marry kim now..
ReplyDeleteI am just now checking because I thought Charlotte might post about the Wimbledon outcome and I just finished watching the match! I had it recording this morning and wanted to be able to watch the whole match before knowing. I am SOOO excited for Andy and Great Britain! 77 years is a long time coming and he deserved the win...although Djokivic played a great game too! Charlotte, I love the picture you posted of him smiling. That's rare and so sweet. Congrats Andy!
ReplyDeleteSome exciting news around our house today.... My daughter and I each received letters from the Cambridges in yesterday's mail!!! My daughter received two pictures. One was of Prince William and the other was of both Will and Kate from their visit to Singapore last year. I received a typed letter from their private offices. VERY excited!!! My daughter wants to frame them for her room. :-)
Waiting on pins and needles to hear the exciting news that Kate's in the hospital laboring! Baby fever has hit an all time high here and is definitely the talk of the neighborhood....at least on our street. We are SO excited and eagerly waiting..... My neighbor asked if I was returning to London for the birth. She told me I was the crazy type to travel back just for that! We all had a good laugh! My daughter told me Kate was having a little girl named Princess Catherine....we'll see. I'm sure Will and Kate are excited, nervous, anxious. Hoping and praying they are both getting some rest. Charlotte, are you getting any sleep??? :-)
I've received mail from their private offices too! I got one picture of Kate on her visit to Canada!! :) I was so excited to get it!! :)
DeleteI can't agree with the artice "working and babies do mix".. Catherine's job is completely different than that of business women, I don't say Catherine works less harder or something like that.. but her job and all help she receives cannot be compared to common mothers ...
ReplyDeleteOh I heard more Baby news: Zara is also going to be a mum next year :)
ReplyDeleteAnd sooo looking Forward for Baby Cambridge ... I was expecting it last week actually ;)
Sweltered through a super hot day here in Somerset - 30 degrees by midday - and really was so glad I'm not pregnant! I really feel for Kate (and any other pregnant ladies out there), I hope she spent the day sat in front of a fan!
ReplyDeleteAnd more baby news....according to the Telegraph, Zara is expecting due early in 2014.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to zara and mike a whole bunch of exictment for the royals and the queen of course
ReplyDeleteI wish the whole family the best of luck!
ReplyDeleteSo excited God bless them!!
ReplyDeleteI wish them a safe delivery and above all else, I wish them PRIVACY. They need time to bond with their baby.
ReplyDeleteOf course they'll have privacy. They do now. We don't see much of the royals on or off duty.
DeleteThank you so much for this blog and all the wonderful and informative information on TRH ......I am a friend from the other side of the pond.
ReplyDeleteOh my! Thanks so much for yet another amazing post!! <3 You do SUCH a good job! This is my favorite blog ever... :)
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of the Duchess and am so excited for the new baby!! I've been waiting and waiting!! :)
Again, thanks a lot for this wonderful blog!! :)
What an excellent blog! Being of English descent now living in the US its a wonderful way to keep up on the Royals and Kate and Williams expected new arrival. I have you saved to my favorites so I will be one of the first to hear of the new little one
ReplyDeleteten bucks says this is all for show and she is actually at her parents and going to have the baby at that general hospital LOL ;) I can totally see that happening and no media will have any idea until its over.
ReplyDeleteI love the ideas companies are coming up with to celebrate the guessing game of the gender. Did anyone hear about krispy kreme filling their donuts with pink or blue filling!? I think it's a brilliant marketing technique.
ReplyDelete