I have some weird memories of Princess Charlotte’s birth. It happened on a Saturday, and I woke up feeling sick as a dog – in what would be a very strange 48-hour cold – and the news was already out that Kate was checked into the hospital. Then everything happened very quickly: she gave birth within a few hours of checking in, and then just a few hours later, William went home and came back with Prince George, and then soon after, Kate, William and baby Charlotte left the hospital. It all happened in a day, really within about 12 hours. That was because Charlotte’s birth was surprisingly easy, apparently, and Kate felt amazing (and looked amazing, btw) afterwards. She was the one who wanted to go home on the same day, and William seemed a bit shellshocked by Kate’s insistence. So what will the birth of the third Cambridge baby be like? Will it be little drama like Charlotte’s birth, or full of drama like George’s birth?
Inside the Lindo Wing at London’s St. Mary’s Hospital, a luxe maternity suite has been under lockdown since mid-March. “Security does regular sweeps of the room, then it’s resealed each time with tamper-proof tape,” an insider reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. “It’s a high-security operation. Even the crawl space above the room is checked regularly.”
The tony quarters in the famed maternity ward — where suites run upwards of $9,650 per day — isn’t being saved for a mere millionaire, after all. It’s where Duchess Kate, who’s expecting her newest heir with Prince William on April 23, is scheduled to give birth. And this being the third time around — Kate welcomed Prince George and Princess Charlotte in the same wing, in 2013 and 2015, respectively — the operation is well-oiled. Says the royal insider, “Everything is planned down to the tiniest detail.”
All across London and into West Berkshire, a so-called Kensington Palace “baby team” — including Kate’s mum, Carole Middleton — is on high alert. And no aspect of baby Cambridge No. 3’s welcome is being ignored. The newly formed group “is dedicated to making sure everything is ready, from media plans to security to hospital arrangements,” says the source. “There’s a backup plan for everything.”
They hope they’ll only need their first — which is scheduled down to the minute. As soon as Kate, 36, goes into labor, she and William, 35, will begin the mile-and-a-half drive from Kensington Palace to St. Mary’s. “The hospital will get only five minutes’ notice ahead of Kate’s arrival,” shares the source. The tight timeline is designed “to prevent anyone being tipped off that she’ll be leaving home,” notes the source. “And because everything is organized so precisely, the hospital can handle such short notice.”
Kate’s mum, 63, will also be on her way in from her home in Bucklebury to go on grandparent duty with excited George, 4, and Charlotte, 2. “She’s visited Kensington Palace a number of times over the past few weeks,” the source says of Carole. “Alongside William, she’s been so supportive and helpful.”
And once the new royal — who will be fifth in line to the throne — arrives, the plan is to get him or her home to the family’s 22-room Apartment 1A as soon as possible. “Depending on how Kate feels,” says the source, “it’s hoped she can return home the same day or the following morning.”
Yeah, that’s what I would have expected. The only thing that I doubt in this report is that Carole Middleton will be coming in from Bucklebury. My guess is that Carole has already moved into Kensington Palace already to help Kate and Nanny Maria for the next month or so. I still want to know what happens after the birth: is Kate going to stay in London throughout her maternity leave, or will she decamp to Anmer Hall or Bucklebury? I still don’t know. But here’s hoping for all our sakes, especially Kate, that the third birth is as no-drama as the second birth.
She really did look amazing after Charlotte’s birth, right? Meanwhile, the photos of Prince Egg will be so struggling this time around.
Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of Us Weekly.
Again pregnancy suits her. I find it a strange tradition for them to glam her up to leave but that’s just me. Otherwise she seems to have awful first trimesters and coasts for the rest. So that’s nice
She chooses to glam herself. All that is required is presentable. This is a woman who took her glam squad on a mountain pass hike on the grounds that she didn’t want to be pictured less than glamourous. Pressure is all herself.
As for her hospital presentations, compare with G’s presentation. She was presentable rather than high glamour. The only high maintenance thing about that appearance was the blow out, though hair was kept simple. Make up was minimal, dress very simple, and low wedges as the only nod to glamour. She looked glorious.
Charlotte’s presentation looked overdone. Full on hair and make up, wiglet and dolly curls, high end dress, spike heels as if she was on her way to a cocktail party…..eek!!
I find it all strange. The fact that they have to even “present” is a bit much.
Thousands of pounds on a hand-painted dress along with bringing in her hair and makeup people.
@Nicole, I think the “presenting” goes back to when royals, esp. the heir(s) had to be born with witnesses (to ensure that it was a live birth, and that no other babies were *substituted* ensuring the direct, rightful lineage. Nowdays, of course no one other than her husband and medical team is in the actual birthing suite, but “showing” the baby is still the custom.
Nicole: Ironically, it’s modern living that has revived the ancient practise of showing the newborn almost as soon as it’s born.
Once the royals started giving birth in hospitals, they couldn’t quietly exit without some sort of photo op pap stroll. It’s increasingly turned into a circus and when Kate panders to it by dressing UP for it, she’s merely adding to the problem.
Before that, it took weeks, and sometimes months, for the public to get a glimpse of baby via photos privately taken or baby joins public royal event
Imqrious2: That’s a different type of ‘showing’. In ye old times, showing the baby to the public wasn’t a thing. Regular people were extremely lucky to see a portrait, nevermind the real thing.
The type of showing you are talking about was about witnessing the birth by members of the court so there were no smuggled-in babies / changelings AND to make sure the heirs were born in a way that obeyed the rules of inheritance ie ‘of the body’ and ‘in legitimate marriage’. The usual court thus employed were members of the privy council and included the home secretary and the Prime Minister. Prince Charles’s birth was the last such witnessing.
I suspect Kate’s enormous medical team includes instructions to maintain the spirit of that old tradition because it includes staff members that are surplus to requirements who report to HM directly.
@LAK
Possibly has something to do with the pressure of looking perfect post-partum. She was dragged for showing up to her first post-partum engagement after having George looking tired and having grey stands of hair and wrinkles. Who knows how much a negative impact having that pointed out had on her psychologically?. I’m guessing a lot which is why she overdid it the second time around.
She’s known for going to the hairdresser 3 times a week. Skipped the Irish Guards for a cut and dye job. For a woman obsessed with her appearance, I always took those gray hair photos as deliberate. Needed sympathy for poor tired Kate to excuse the laziness.
Yea I said this further down but the pressure to “present” the baby and to also look glam hours after giving birth is a lot. I just wish she (and every other person that does it) wouldn’t have to. If she wanted to fine but I doubt she does.
Whatever: You are talking about a different event some 3-4months after she gave birth to G.
When she presented G, there was universal praise for how she looked especially for showing her post-partum belly. Op-eds were written about the tyranny of hiding the post-partum baby belly and how Kate had shown it was perfectly normal.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/kates-unabashed-baby-belly-busts-the-last-taboo-of-pregnancy
2months later, she looked as she did at the birth sans belly as she played volleyball.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/10/18/article-2465723-18D1F93400000578-483_634x908.jpg
3months later, she showed up for an engagement looking less than her usual pristine self. Much thinner, no botox, her roots showing. The press had a field day.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/07/29/00/2AE7982200000578-0-image-a-39_1438125157670.jpg
She disappeared for about 3 weeks after that dragging and the next time she was seen, roots were done, face botoxed, professionally applied make up.
https://whatkatewore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Kate-SportsAid-SportsBall-Black-Temperley-Templeton-Dress-PA-Wire-555-x-1200.jpg
Since then, we’ve rarely seen her otherwise.
Nicole: The way Kate presents herself publicly is a self-created rod for her own back. She deliberately made herself over to what she thinks a duchess should look like. Having created that expectation, if she doesn’t live upto it, she is dragged.
As we’ve discussed the glam squad for her mountain hike……who would have written terrible things about that hike if Kate had finished it all huffy and puffy. There was no expectation for glamour. And the press wrote attendant articles saying as such whilst pointing out that everyone on that hike was huffy and puffy including Kate who had nonetheless insisted on a glam makeover before pictures could be taken.
It’s similar to instagram hyper reality fakeness where the IG person has created an expectation to look a certain way then complains (or public complains on their behalf) about the pressure to look hyper real. Don’t pander. Don’t create expectation. Simples.
@LAK
Yes I know i’m talking about a different event. The point that I made in my first reply to you still stands.
If Kate had’ve worn sweat pants from Target or a Chanel suit the press would have been camped outside St. Mary’s for her births. The media interest in George’s arrival was insane. You can’t blame her for trying to look attractive.
Shotcaller: i think i’ve made it very clear that she looked glorious when she presented George. That’s in my first comment. I point out that she was very simply styled, dressed and made up. The only nod to glamour being her blown out hair.
And if media is the baromenter, there were lots of articles praising her look at George’s presentation.
Whatever: You specifically mentioned George’s presentation as the point she was dragged, and i was correcting that point. She was dragged for an appearance 3-4mths after the birth NOT at his presentation.
Further, that dragging had nothing to do with George because it wasn’t baby related engagement, nor was the dragging tied into the fact that she’d recently had a baby.
@LAK
To clarify; the engagement I was referring to when I said she got dragged for having grey hair and wrinkles wasn’t Goerge’s hospital leaving photocall but an engagement she did after his birth. I then said ” Who knows how much a negative impact having that pointed out had on her psychologically?. I’m guessing a lot which is why she overdid it the second time around.” …meaning getting dragged for her appearance at that engagement must have been hard on her because when it came to leaving the hospital the second time around with baby Charlotte she looked overdone. You proved my point right with your reply “Since then, we’ve rarely seen her otherwise” after you mentioned her improved appearance (after laying low for 3 weeks after initial dragging).
Hope that clears things up.
For 15 years she has made her appearance her priority. Not working hard, preparing for engagements, or doing something useful with her life while she waited for a man to propose. She is the one who made that choice, and continues to make it.
Kate could easily say to the press that she is tired of having to maintain beauty standards and that people should be focusing on her charities. However, she continues to spend around 200k every year on new clothing, and still barely attends much less speaks at charity events. She has the power to do this more than most women in the world. She chooses not to do that because she likes all the shopping, makeup and hair extensions.
I just don’t see how Kate sealed her doom by trying, maybe trying too hard, to look attractive. She’s vacuous and workshy but those things don’t have anything to do with these criticisms. It’s utterly ridiculous how she can be dragged for looking both bad and good. If she’s insecure about her looks it is not a crime or even a character flaw. Pointing out that she wouldn’t be if only she had more gravitas is rubbish. My sister-in-law, a stunning natural blonde, runs one of the most influential family violence research brain trusts in the country and she admits she wishes she liked her looks more. The misogynistic expectation that women need to be beautiful at all times began thousands of years before Kate left the Lindo wing of the hospital. Does she subscribe to it? Very much so but don’t hate the player, hate the game.
She chooses to play it, while there are other royal ladies who choose not to. Crown Princess Victoria being a prime example. Then again, Victoria has a lot more to recommend her than Kate Middleton does.
Pregnancy does suit her. It adds softness and little curves to her angular body.
As for freshening up with a glam squad my mom used to be a maternity nurse and other wealthy women do the same thing without the photographers waiting outside.
Oh I dont doubt it. I know some that have given birth in full glam. I will never get it but what do i know?
Maybe George, but with Charlotte she had a great pregnancy. For only possibly 2 weeks was she laying low. After that and before she was constantly on her feet shopping. Seen eating at restaurants. Sometimes with William. Her 2nd and 3rd pregnancies appear to be very healthy with limited discomforts many associate pregnancies with.
Why those cancellations to her calendar with no plans to reschedule were getting the side eye.
Kate looks her best pregnant. Maybe the glow. Maybe the extra weight. Maybe the less botox and fillers. She appears healthy and happy.
You find it strange that a royal, wife of the future king, would want to present looking as nice as possible when leaving the hospital? I understand it completely. The hair and makeup you can control. The pregnancy tummy you can’t, like her first photo with William when leaving the hospital.
Crown Princess Victoria, future Queen of Sweden, walked out of the hospital less than 4 hours after giving birth to her daughter. Ditto her son several years later. Simple black pants, top, cardigan.
@notasugarhere
The first time around Kate wore a simple sundress and wedges in July. Nothing wrong with that. That’s on par with wearing ‘Simple black pants, top, cardigan’ like CP Victoria.
She wore a duplicate of a polka dot dress Diana wore on her honeymoon. Still called in the hairdresser and makeup people, left the hospital something like 17 hours after the birth. No where near the same as Victoria leaving the hospital in the same set of clothes she wore going in 4 hours before.
@notasugarhere
Firstly If Kate wants to have her hair and makeup people there to make her look good knowing that her face is going to be plastered on the front page of every newspaper the next day she damn well can!
“left the hospital something like 17 hours after the birth”
That sounds like a criticism. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to leave as early as she wanted based on medical advice? Or maybe she had a rough labor and delivery and it was decided between Kate and her medical team that she should rest for a while before going out to face the world’s media? Getting out of hospital isn’t a race. You really shouldn’t judge.
I’ll do whatever I want, whatever. She has chosen to make her life about her appearance for 15 years. She is that shallow. Her continuing to be that way, even regarding having children, is a choice she makes. All surface, no depth.
@Whatever says, Amen. She can do what she wants when she leaves the hospital. I feel women are so petty. She looks too good. No, she overdid it, on and on. If she wants to look nice leaving the hospital with a gaggle of cameras in front of her, more power to her.
@Notasugarhere, judging how long she stayed in the hospital after birth, are you freaking kidding me? Seventeen hours after birth is nothing. And discussing what she wore, not to your approval. The woman gave birth to a human being. She can damn well wear what she wants, leave when it is appropriate for her and her baby, and style her hair and makeup however she wants.
She gets to choose how she presents herself. Hauling a three person makeup and styling team up a mountain for pap photos? Shows the same amount of vanity as her choice to glam it up for hospital exits.
I felt so bedraggled after giving birth. Anything a new mother can do to feel good, she should do–particularly when the whole universe is going to see you leaving the hospital.
I guess I mean I wish she didn’t have the pressure to do that. If they wanted to they don’t have to present the child right after right? Or is that a required thing?
Not from England so I have no barometer but she shouldn’t HAVE to do anything but go home
Yes, she looked great. I’ve always felt she looked her best while pregnant and immediately after. I do think she looks a little tired in the eyes this time around, but who wouldn’t be with 2 kids under 6 years old. I’m so curious as to how Kate will be with 3 small kids. I wonder if they’ll have more.
Very lucky and blessed of them no snark…I have elderly parents and in law to think of and have chosen to concentrate on them instead of having kids. But sometimes I wonder…. anyway I wish Kate a smooth delivery.
I love how the cover is suppose to be dramatic. But it’s nothing out of the ordinary… Rich woman gives birth. Good for her.
Who cares? Spending everyone’s taxpayer money for no good reason..
How many people could get better NHS care for the money they are spending on this one delivery?
Especially if talk of her delivery room being set aside, cordoned off, and reserved for weeks prior is true.
It’s a private hospital and no NHS patient is suffering because the suite is closed off. And Nota, I love CP Victoria but no one was putting her photo on magazine covers around the world or globally on news bulletins. If a woman wants to glam up after having a baby she shouldn’t be criticised for it.
But they are spending taxpayer money for this delivery, @irene.
What do we think? Boy or girl? I’m going to go with another boy.
I think a boy as well.
I think boy, too. I can’t forget those sweaters they got on the tour: red for Char and Kate, black print for William, George, AND a black one labeled for the “new prince/princess. Most likely it doesn’t *mean* anything, but…. I still vote boy.
I’m leaning more towards boy.
Girl!
Girl. Name guess – Alice
Boy. Just a feeling.
I think it’s a girl.
My vote is for a boy too
I thought Kate looked really beautiful after the birth of Charlotte. I remember CTV news Canada went live and covered the exit of W&K and newborn Charlotte. I was watching it with a person not at all interested – that person kept falling asleep.
I realized when media published a story recently with regard to the gates by the Lindo wing doors being given a fresh coat of paint, it was a pretty good sign Kate wasn’t having a home birth.
I still think it’s a boy and they’ll name him Albert…. we’ll see.
Yes I thought she looked fabulous as well. With George you could tell she had a rough delivery, she looked tired and exhausted, I felt bad that they forced her into pantyhose and dolled her up to prop her in front of the world media, she probably just wanted to rest and recover.
Lela I’m guessing Kate wore knee or thigh high nylons during her departure from hospital. Diana was a fan of them and wore them when she left hospital with baby William but she wore them at other times too. I don’t think Kate wore any nylons at all when they left hospital with baby George – it was so warm, the hottest July in UK for quite a while. Kate’s hair was so long when they left with baby George, I wonder if she had extensions??? I’m betting they go to straight to Anmer after HM visits them at KP. William is most happy at Anmer.
My feeling is that decision was made by Kate who once showed up in platform wedges to kick around a soccer ball and had a hair and makeup team hiding along a mountain trail.
If she wanted to wear flats and no hose, or whatever or even skip the press call, it would have been okayed but that image of being unfazed and perfect is her concept of what it means to be a royal.
No one forced Kate to have hair and makeup done when she left the hospital. It’s what she wanted. Just like she had the hair and makeup team follow her along when they did that trek in the mountains on the India and Tibet tour.
I thought royals couldn’t skip out on the baby reveal, so it was either step outside looking like 10 shades a hell or have your team prep and prim you for the grand reveal. My comment was to mean that I thought, after what seemed like a rough delivery, she would have liked to go directly home without having to do the grand reveal.
If she skipped the press calls people would be calling her out for that too… she really cannot win with many folks on here.
I think Kate could have done it. There’s a ton of concern around Kate because of Diana and there has been a shift in general public opinion. If a new mother wanted some privacy, there would have been some criticism but it would have been drowned out. I criticize her all the time but I would have been on her side.
No, not Albert. No kid deserves to be called (a) Prince Albert. Google it….
Girl or boy, I don’t care. I’m childless, not through choice, and all this baby speculation and ‘joy’ really niggles at me. I hope they are both healthy but other than that I can’t wait for it to be over. We will never see the kid anyway. I’m out.
Albert is a family name. The Queen’s father was an Albert. Ditto her great-grandfather and his father before him.
Victoria decreed that each generation carries either Victoria or Albert name. Currently, it is Prince Andrew’s second name and Prince Harry’s third name.
I’m not one to really get into how “amazing” Kate is for “being pregnant and wearing heels!!” and all the other praise that gets heaped on her for doing engagements and dressing up while pregnant.
BUT I will give her full credit for looking great after both births – I think she looked more “glamorous” after Charlotte’s but really after both she looked gorgeous. I would not have wanted to have put on heels and parade in front of the press like that 11 hours or whatever after giving birth. Yes yes I know that’s part of it and she gets lots of other perks. BUT STILL.
Why does she get credit for sitting there while a team of hairdressers and makeup artists did the work?
Kate seems to have easy deliveries since there are no stories of complications being in labour for hours, especially not with Charlotte. So she is likely to also have an easy time of it with number three. As for Carole being at KP, there have been stories that she has been there for months anyway.
I don’t really like how Kate gets shade in general for wanting to have her mum around after giving birth. I’m due to give birth in October and my mum is moving in with us for 3 months. We have a housekeeper and a nanny helping with our 4 year old but there is nothing like my mom being there to support and help me. I know Will and Kate have an army of helpers but I understand. As much as I love my husband he’s useless in understanding my sore vag., hemorrhoids and leaking painful boobs, that’s where my mama comes in!
Carole being there after the birth is one thing, but the stories are that Carole and Mike are basically separated which is why she moved in at KP. If Carole being there saves them from hiring another nanny then I don’t think anyone is shading that. It’s obvious William is not doing the daily diaper changing or anything like that.
That also bothers me as well, all the stories of William not helping are awful. Diana seemed hands on so I have no idea why he doesn’t want to bond and form a relationship with his children early on, maybe it’s a “upper class/royal” thing, not being hands on and passing the responsibility to hired help.
I thought she looked better after George’s birth. She looks tired in these pictures but that’s to be expected! But more power to her for going home on the same day Charlotte was born! I think everyone likes to get home as soon as possible, especially when it’s no longer your first.
I was given the go ahead to go home about 18 hours after I had my son, and I told my doctor I wasn’t leaving until my insurance company kicked me out! In the hospital, I just had to care for my newborn. Waiting at home I had a toddler and two kids, a husband and brother-in-law along with a house to take care of, plus the two older boys had school. No way was I going to give up one minute of “time off”, lol!
LOL I do envy that she seems to just pop them out and leave within like 12 hours!
She gets to go in her own timeline though, by which I mean all the box checking will be done ASAP for them you know? I was ready to leave the hospital with my third about as fast, but when you’re just a regular Jill, you have to wait for the hearing test, the this and that…
I’m reading this with my 5 mo old son on my knee and thinking baby number 3 sounds like it’s not such a bad idea. Kate looks so good pregnant right up to the end. Then I remember what I was like at 9 months, I look like I ate a pregnant lady for breakfast.
She gives birth like a pro, I don’t know how she does it. Even with all the help and glam squad I wouldn’t want to stand out in front of a crowd hours after giving birth, so I’ll give her that. If I remember correctly she had drug free labors with both, she definitely excels at giving birth.
Jess yea I think you described it well. She also looks good pregnant. I am short and I am certain I would balloon and swell. She is blessed and uh…well taken care of? Lol I couldn’t help it.
Most royal ladies exit the hospital and deal with the press in some way. Seems like such a pathetic thing to praise her for.
Or to criticise her for!
Pathetic seems a bit dramatic, lol.
Most “royals” aren’t the heir/direct line to the heir. There’s a different expectation.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. Exited after 2hrs. No one thought worse of her for not looking glam after each birth.
Kate insists on looking as glamourous as possible as she exits. That is on her. However, whether she means to do it, she creates a public expectation that royals must exit looking glamourous and any lady who does not is breaking a royal protocol.
Not sure about Jess but nah I’m not praising. Just complimenting her on her looks while pregnant or after birth (even if it’s made up glam). I’ll compliment any royal lady. I’ll compliment you. Doesn’t mean I expect highest standards from everyone heh.
Sweden’s Sofia and Carl left the hospital in jeans and sweaters. Low key and she looked great as well.
I agree, Kate puts all of this upon herself and it’s quite silly. Little dresses and heels, so odd.
I think it’s quite mean to judge a woman for her appearance less than a day after she’s just delivered a child into the world.
And yes, I consider it mean and judgmental to complain ad nauseum about her glam squad. WHO CARES? The woman JUST had a baby for jimminy’s sake!!!!!
If I had to “present” myself a few hours after birth I would also have a glam squad on tap. LOL No shame from me…the world is watching and those pictures will be around forever. Do I wish she would come out in a messy bun with BB Cream only? Of course…in my dreams. Ha! So I could say, …the future Queen is just like me! 🙂
Hopes for a easy, no drama birth!!! I’m calling a little girl. Born before her April 23rd date.
Does anyone else remember how this played out for Maria-Teresa of Lux or Rania of Jordan? Those ladies were interviewed live from their hospital beds within a couple of hours of birth (or emergency C-section).
I’m sure some of you will give the excuse, “But those are smaller countries, less pressure, yada yada.” I’ll posit a higher percentage of the population of those countries watched those live broadcasts vs. the low percentage of the UK population that paid any attention at all to W&K leaving the hospital. KM chooses to be vain about her hospital appearances.
When Kate first appeared with George she had on a similar dress to the one Diana had on when she first appeared with William. Both Diana and Kate a lot more glamorous with their second child than their first and Diana a lot more glamorous and “done up” with Harry than Kate was with Charlotte.