Kate Middleton's due date is set to be in April, although no particular date was officially announced. However, the seventh anniversary of her wedding to Prince William is also in April, leading some to speculate that the Duchess of Cambridge may give birth on the same day as her anniversary. Whenever the Duchess does give birth, she may be expected to follow the traditional set of birthing rules that mothers in the British royal family have had to abide by.
Last year, Kensington Palace announced that the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is due sometime in April. A month earlier, the Duke and Duchess revealed the pregnancy, with Kensington Palace confirming that the Duchess was also experiencing Hyperemesis Gravidarum, a condition characterized as acute morning sickness.
With April looming close, many are now speculating on when exactly the Duchess will give birth. A popular speculation seems to be that the Duchess might give birth on April 29, which marks the Duke and Duchess's seventh wedding anniversary.
There are also rumors that the Duchess's actual due date is on April 23, also known as the national holiday St. George's Day in England. Thus, there may indeed be a good chance that the Duchess will give birth on April 29. However, there are also those who think that the Duchess may give birth on April 14, which is also a holiday called Grand National Day.
The sex of the baby is also unknown, although there are already name suggestions suitable for both sexes.
Aside from speculations on the due date, there have also been some buzz around the royal family's birthing rules. Apparently, according to protocol, royal mothers traditionally give birth at home. However, the Lady Diana, Prince William's mother, broke tradition by giving birth to both of her sons at St. Mary's Hospital in London.
The Duchess also gave birth at the same hospital for Prince George and Princess Charlotte, her two older children, although there are rumors that she may want to give birth in Kensington Palace this time around.
The birthing rules also dictate that the Queen must be the first person to be informed of the birth. Once the royal couple is ready to inform the public, they must place an announcement on an easel in outside Buckingham Palace. A town crier will also verbally announce the news.
However, when Prince George was born, the Duke and Duchess announced the news on Twitter before the town crier could do his job.
