Royal Baby Watch: Frequently Asked Questions

When is the royal baby due?
The official due date is the vague date of mid-July but Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper says the newest royal will arrive July 13 – right in the middle of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation Festival.

What will the baby’s gender be?
Prince William and Kate have said they have chosen not to find out the sex of their baby. However, odds makers favour a girl.

Have William and Kate chosen a name?
Officially, they have not, but once again, bookies have stepped in.  Alexandra, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Victoria are the four most popular names, followed by George.

Diana – the name of William’s late mother – is at No. 6, followed by James.

Where will the Duchess of Cambridge give birth?
The royal baby will be born in St. Mary’s Hospital in the Paddington area of London – reportedly in an exclusive suite that costs upwards of $7,000 US a day.

Will the baby be breastfed?

There’s debate whether Kate will breastfeed her newborn, but Lady Diana breastfed both William and Harry. And Queen Elizabeth also breastfed Charles until she got measles.

How will the baby be announced?  
A birth certificate will be carried from the hospital to Buckingham Palace, where it will be posted on the public gates.

The posting will be followed by “extensive” canon fire throughout London, 62 shots from the Tower of London and 41 from Green Park, Forbes reports.

The public will find out the name and gender at this time. However, it’s not yet known when a photo will be released.

What will the baby’s title be? If it’s a girl, can she become Queen?
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will welcome either a Prince or Princess of Cambridge – and, if she is a girl, she will eventually be Queen of England.

“If it’s a boy, it will be His Royal Highness Prince (name) of Cambridge,” a Kensington Palace spokeswoman told Agence-France Press.

“If it’s a girl, it will be Her Royal Highness Princess (name) of Cambridge.”

That’s all thanks to a very recent change from Queen Elizabeth who decreed that the royal baby — regardless of whether it is a boy or a girl — will be the Royal Highness and an heir to the throne.

“The Queen has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 31 December 2012 to declare that all the children of the eldest son of The Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of Royal Highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, in announcing that royal sons will no longer take precedence over older sisters in the line of succession, explained the change by stating: “Put simply, if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl, that girl would one day be our queen.”

Where does the royal baby fall in the line of succession?
The royal baby will become third in line to the throne. Prince Charles is first in line, followed by his son, Prince William. The royal baby will put Prince Harry, currently third in the line of succession, to fourth.

Where will the family live?

William, Kate and the new baby will likely live at Kensington Palace in  London. They have a cottage in Wales, where William is a search-and-rescue pilot, but it is unlikely they will live so far from their families, The Associated Press reports.

Will there be a dedicated nanny or security staff?

It “remains to be seen” whether William and Kate will hire a nanny, Hello! Canada reported, however, it is likely they will have some help.

With files from The Canadian Press

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