Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, has been admitted to the hospital for the birth of her first baby.
Her offices at Kensington Palace confirmed the news this morning via press release,
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted this morning to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London in the early stages of labor. The Duchess traveled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.
Her husband, Prince William, is currently second in line to the throne of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realms. Baby Cambridge, upon birth, will be third in line to the throne, pushing it’s uncle – Prince Harry – down to fourth place.
And in a showing of “Royals, they’re just like us,” around 8:48am EST (keeping in mind that Kate was admitted to the hospital around 5:30am GMT, so it’s about 8 hours later) Hello Magazine reported:
Royal protection officers have reportedly delivered a laptop, iPod and M&S food supplies to Kate’s suite #royalbaby
— HELLO! (@hellomag) July 22, 2013
Meanwhile, crowds are gathering en mass at Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the easel when the announcement is placed there.
Crowds gather outside Buckingham Palace as the world awaits #Royalbaby http://t.co/6xDlC3CH9v pic.twitter.com/aaumKkO7UC
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) July 22, 2013
12:11pm EST – Kate has been at the hospital for over 11 hours, and presumably in labor for an hour or so before admittance. If she does not give birth by 10:30pm UK time, the birth announcement will be held until tomorrow morning, so that Her Majesty The Queen does not find out after the rest of the world.
12:51pm EST – It is expected that Ailsa Anderson, Her Majesty’s Press Secretary, will be given the honor of posting the birth announcement on The Easel (yes, capitalization is intentional) just inside the gates of Buckingham Palace. The announcement will be given to her in a sealed envelope on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital, and she will be driven by motorcade to Buckingham Palace.
1:05pm EST – It’s just been reported that a helicopter has landed on the grounds of Buckingham Palace. No word as to who the passenger is, or if there even is one. Her Majesty arrived back at Buck House earlier this morning after her weekend away at Windsor. Prince Charles is currently up in Leeds, and Camilla is expected to join him later – perhaps she’s departing soon?
3:07pm EST – It’s just been announced that the announcement of the royal birth will be made via e-mailed press released, prior to the birth announcement leaving the Lindo Wing and headed over to Buckingham Palace, as previously reported. This late change in the game plan likely is due to the fact that it is after 8pm in the UK, and they’d like the news to be released by the palace, rather than accidental leaks, even in the event that Her Majesty is sleeping/doesn’t receive the news first.
3:20pm EST – There is some speculation that the Royal Baby has already been born, as reporters that have spoken with palace press secretaries are stating that they’ve been told they will get the announcement “shortly.”