Queen to MISS royal baby arrival: Monarch NOT in London as Kate goes into labour
THE Queen is expected to miss the arrival of the royal baby as she is out of London while Kate is in labour with her third child in Lindo Wing, at St Mary’s Hospital.
Earlier this morning Kensington Palace announced Kate was admitted to the private maternity wing in the early stages of labour.
With the royal baby due imminently, Princess Charlotte was born just a few hours after the Duchess of Cambridge was rushed to hospital, it is likely the Queen will miss the royal baby’s birth.
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman confirmed to Express.co.uk that Her Majesty is still in Windsor Castle, where she marked the official start of the London Marathon on Sunday.
The spokeswoman refused to comment on whether the Queen would visit Kate and the royal baby in the Lindo Wing but it appears unlikely as Her Majesty visited Kate and William’s other children Prince George and Princess Charlotte after the proud parents had returned to Kensington Palace.
However royal tradition dictates that the Queen must be the first to know and will be informed of the royal baby’s birth even before William.
After the Queen, other members of the Royal Family and the Middleton family will be told that the Duchess has given birth and then the Royal communications team will email media organisations with the sex, weight and timing of the birth.
The age-old custom of placing a paper proclamation for the public to see outside the Queen's Buckingham Palace will then follow as it did when Prince George and Princess Charlotte were born.
It is understood Kate was taken to the Lindo Wing with the Duke of Cambridge before 6am.
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The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour
Kensington Palace tweeted: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London earlier this morning in the early stages of labour.
“The Duchess travelled by car from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital with The Duke of Cambridge.”
Kate is being cared for by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist – both were part of the trusted team who delivered Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Highly-trained midwives will also be on hand, while experts will be waiting in the wings in case of an emergency. For her previous births, Kate had a 23-strong team of top medics working or on standby.
Kate's labour coincides with St George's Day and if the royal baby is born by the end of the day, as expected, the little one will share their birthday with the patron saint of England.
St George is heralded for his honour, bravery and gallantry. Surrounded by myth, one legend tells of St George's defeat of a dragon.
The Royal baby would also share their birthday with Lady Gabriella Windsor - the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who was also born at the Lindo Wing on April 23, 1981.