The scoop on the royal baby

With the new royal baby due on April 23, there’s plenty of buzz surrounding names, due dates and of course, whether it will be a prince or a princess. If you’ve got royal baby fever read on for the scoop on the latest facts, rumours and stakes.

The due date

According to official sources, Kate is due on April 23. It also happens to be St George’s Day, which celebrates England’s beloved patron saint. If that’s not a nod to patriotism we don’t know what is. That said, both George and Charlotte were born later than their due dates which suggests that the newest addition won’t arrive until the end of April, or even early May. It would be quite the coincidence is the new baby was born on May 2, which is also the birthday of Princess Charlotte. Or April 29, which is the couple’s wedding anniversary.

Prince or princess?

Just days ago, Wills made a bit of a royal slip that had Brits wondering if the new baby will in fact be a boy. After attending a soccer match and later celebrating Aston Villa’s win, the future King of England was heard joking to another fan that “I’m going to insist the baby is called Jack,” a reference to the team’s legendary Jack Grealish who scored the game-winning goal. While some pass it off as playful banter, others maintain it’s proof that a prince is on the way.

Names

Speaking of names… There’s plenty of speculation surrounding what the newest member of the royal family will be called. Mary is a firm favourite, a regal name that’s long been associated with the British monarchy. It’s been crowned the 3-1 favourite by bookmaker William Hill, followed by Alice at 6-1 and Victoria at 8-1. Albert tops the list of boy’s names, with Arthur and Fred also big contenders. Of course, Wills and Kate could always throw a spanner in the works and choose something avant-garde like Noah or Liam, two of the most popular boy’s names in 2018.

Home or hospital

While there’s been some speculation over whether Kate will opt for a home birth at Kensington Palace, a hum of activity in the Lindo Wing suggests that she’ll be whisked away to London’s St Mary’s Hospital.

Fashion forward

One thing’s for sure, Kate is guaranteed to look gorgeous when she steps out for the first public appearance with her new baby. For both George and Charlotte, she emerged wearing dresses from British designer Jenny Packham. As for the new little one, both the prince and princess made their first public debuts bundled up in a luxurious merino wool christening shawl from G.H Hurt & Son. Chances are Kate’s latest ensemble will also feature the likes of Jenny Packham and G.H Hurt & Son.

Can’t get enough of the royal baby buzz? Watch this space as April 23 is fast approaching.