Royal baby prepares for first audience with the Queen

Three-day-old Princess Charlotte is expected to meet her great-grandmother the Queen today in London.

The royal baby has spent her first nights at Kate Middleton and Prince William's London home, Kensington Palace, but will today expand her horizons.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Princess Charlotte is expected to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace before the Cambridges drive to Anmer Hall, their country home in Norfolk.

Yesterday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge finally ended the months of speculation about their second child's name, honouring William's parents Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana as well as his grandmother the Queen.

Royal gun salutes were fired across London in Hyde Park and the Tower of London.

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Cambridge is Queen Elizabeth's fifth great-grandchild and fourth in line to the throne, pushing Prince Harry into fifth place.

She will retain this position, even if her parents have another son, as princes can no longer take precedence over their older sisters under the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act.

One retail expert has already predicted that she will be worth around 150m a year to the economy, predominantly fuelling the fashion and beauty industry.

Bookmakers are said to be facing a 1m payout after Charlotte became one of the most heavily backed names last week. Their attentions have now turned to the Cambridges' choice in godparents.

Prince George has no less than seven godparents: Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall.

Prince William's cousin Princess Beatrice is currently the bookies' favourite to be godmother, while Hugh van Cutsem Jr is a favourite to be godfather. His daughter Grace is Prince William's goddaughter and was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding.

Royal baby named Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

4 May

The royal baby has been namedCharlotte Elizabeth Diana, as William and Kate look to the recent history of both their families for inspiration.

Charlotte is the middle name ofKate Middleton's sister, Pippa, as well as the feminine form ofCharles, the baby's grandfather. It is also the name of Prince William's cousin, Charlotte Spencer.

The new royal baby's middle names, Diana and Elizabeth, pay tribute to the Queen and to Diana, her late grandmother.

Her official title is Her Royal Highness the Princess of Cambridge, and she may also be known as the Princess Royal when Prince William ascends to the throne. That title, currently used by Princess Anne, is traditionally granted to the monarch's oldest daughter.

According to the BBC, Charlotte "has a long royal pedigree and became popular in the 18th century when it was the name of George III's queen. ...Charles is the name of two former Kings and of the Prince of Wales, the princess's grandfather."

The Daily Mirror says that Princess Charlotte will share her name with another European Royal. "Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, 29, is the second child of Caroline, Princess of Hanover, Princess of Monaco, and the late Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist," the paper reports".

Kensington Palace was coy when it came to attributing meaning or significance to any of the chosen names, saying that officials preferred to allow the names to speak for themselves.

Describing them as a "touching tribute", the Daily Mail said that it had been told by royal sources that "the couple simply liked the name but admitted it was a 'happy coincidence' that both William's father and mother would live on in their grand-daughter."

Earlier today, the royal baby's arrival was marked with gun salutes in Hyde Park and at the Tower of London.

It is believed that the princess, along with her brother,Prince George, will remain at Kensington Palace for the next few days, before they travel to Sandringham. The duke and duchess are planning to set up home with their family atAnmer Hall, which stands in the grounds of the estate.

The Georgian home, which was recently refurbished, is well placed for Prince William's job as an air-sea rescue helicopter pilot.

Royal baby girl: Kate Middleton and new princess visited by family

3 May

The new royal baby has spent the night at home in Kensington Palace with Kate Middleton and Prince William, after making her first public appearance yesterday afternoonon the steps ofSt Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London.

The duke and duchess showed off their daughterto cheering crowds, who had swelled as news spread of the birth. Hours before, the duke had arrived at the hospital with Prince George, the new royal baby's older brother, who will be two this summer.George, dressed in light blue shorts and a darker blue cardigan, gave a tentative wave as he and his father turned towards the cameras.

As she left hospital, Kate waved to wellwishers and the world's media. Her child, whose title is Princess of Cambridge, was wrapped in a white shawl.

The young princess was visited this afternoon by both pairs of grandparents. Michael and Carole Middleton arrived at Kensington Palace,accompanied by Kate's sister Pippa. Earlier, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall had spent more than an hour with their granddaughter.

The royal baby is not expected to be named until she has been presented to the Queen. That is likely to happen at Sandringham, in Norfolk, within the next week.

After a few days at Kensington Palace, the Princess of Cambridge and her parents are expected to move to Anmer Hall, a Georgian stately home on the Sandringham estate. The house is reported to have undergone a 1.5m refurbishment to prepare it for the royal couple and their children, paid mostly out of the royal family's private funds.

The most recent addition to the royal family was delivered on Saturday morning, little more than two hours after she was admitted to hospital. This royal baby arrived significantly more quickly than the last - the duchess was in labour for ten hours when she delivered Prince George.

"Her royal highness, the Duchess of Cambridge, was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am," an official statement from Kensington Palace announced. "The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz. The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth."

Crowds who had gathered outside the Lindo Wing greeted the news with enthusiasm.

"Cheering broke outjust after 11am as word spread that Kensington Palace had announced the birth of a baby girl," theDaily Telegraphreports.

At about 6am yesterday the duchess had been transferred by car to St Mary's, where the couple's first child, Prince Georgewas born in 2013. Prince William travelled with his wife to the hospital.

The Princess of Cambridge is fourth in line to the throne, behind Prince Charles, Prince William and her older brother. Prince Harry, her uncle, will drop down one place in the lineof succession.

The traditional announcement placed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace was accompanied by tweets from official royal accounts.

Later in life the new royal baby may also be known as the Princess Royal. The title, traditionally reserved for the eldest daughter of the monarch, is currently used for Princess Anne.

"The Prince of Wales will be overjoyed," the Daily Mirror reports, "as he made no secret he wanted his second grandchild to be a girl."

In recent weeks, bookmakers had favoured girl's names, withAlice, Elizabeth, Charlotte and Victoria among the favourites. "It will be fairly likely it will be a family name that perhaps has been used before in the royal family, not so likely in Kate's family,"Charles Kidd, editor of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage predicted.

The Daily Mail says the royal couple may pay tribute to William's father in naming the child. "William Hill yesterday slashed the odds of the baby being named Princess Charlotte - a feminine version of Charles - to 2/1, while Alice has drifted out to 5/2," it reports.

Politicians were quick to offer their congratulations, with the three main party leaders tweeting warm wishes for the mother and baby. Ukip leader Nigel Farage also expressed his satisfaction that the birth weight had been given in imperial measurements.

The BBCsays the duchess and the new royal baby were "looked after by consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston", who was "joined in the delivery room by Alan Farthing, the Queen's surgeon-gynaecologist".

The world's media has assembled outside the hospital, having been kept away until Kensington Palace announced earlier this morning that the duchess had gone into labour.

Prince Harry, currently in Australia with the Army, was spotted at an Aussie rules football match as the news broke that he had a new niece.

Royal baby due date: will Kate Middleton have a boy or girl?

1 May

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge insist they don't know what s*x their second child will be, but this hasn't stopped the world from guessing about the new royal baby. As reports circulate that Kate Middleton's child is overdue - according to one Whitehall source, the due date was 23 April - speculation is mounting.Commentators have been dissecting Kate Middleton's clothes, bump and diet in a bid to predict the royal baby's gender. Here are some of the theories to emerge over the last nine months:

Pink ribbon:

When the Duke and Duchess surprised royal fans waiting outside the Lindo Wing with Danish pastries this week, some felt sure they had given the game away. The box of treats, delivered on behalf of the expectant couple, was wrapped in a pink ribbon apparently suggesting that the royal baby would be a girl. However, the Daily Telegraph quickly poured cold water on the idea, quoting a source who said the patisserie "just happens to use pink ribbon".

Spirit of Diana:

A clairvoyant from north Yorkshire claimed she knew the baby would be a girl because she has been talking daily to the spirit of Princess Diana. Carolina Bruce, who says she has been "bosom buddies" with Diana since she died in 1997, said the baby will weigh 8lbs or less, have dark hair and blue eyes and will have Victoria and Diana in her name. "People think I'm bonkers, but I just know it's going to be a little girl," she told theDaily Express. Bruce also predicted that the baby would be born on 25 April, five days ago.

Alleged leaks:

In December, America's OK magazine claimed that a source had "spilled" that the royals would be welcoming a princess. The family allegedly found out the news at a doctor's appointment and the name was certain to be Margaret. "George was too young to know exactly what was going on, but he's learning a new word: sister," said the insider. The magazine released virtually the same story in February, only this time the name was certain to be Diana.

Kate is 'a natural' with girls:

PopSugarhas put together a gallery of 32 images showing Kate's "cutest interactions" with young girls around the world (also described as "Snaps That Are Sure to Make Your Heart Explode"). The celebrity news site says Kate "does seem to be in her element when she's meeting with young female admirers" and is "a natural with little girls". This is apparently a "sign" that the new royal baby might be of the female variety. "She's a natural with kids in general, but there's a ton of photo evidence that proves how sweet she'd be with a daughter," it adds.

Kate 'very interested' in girls' clothes:

One of Kate's favourite children's clothes stores is said to be Amaia Kids in Chelsea, London. Prince George was pictured wearing a pair of its navy bloomers for a series of official photographs on the steps of Kensington Palace last Christmas. But during one of the Duchess's recent visits to the boutique, she was "very interested" in the girls' clothes, claimsPeople. The store's co-owner told the magazine: "We all hope it's a little girl because it will be so cute they will be like a little couple."

The blue coat:

"Pregnant Kate Middleton hints at baby's s*x in blue coat," announcedOKmagazine in January. The Duchess attended a charity coffee morning in London wearing a blue cashmere dress-coat by Seraphine, a "possible hint at the second baby's s*x", said OK. But the coat theorists were left baffled last month when Kate turned up to the Commonwealth Observance service at Westminster Abbey dressed head to toe in pink.

Pippa's 'pink baby shower':

A report fromStar Magazinelast year claimed that party-planner Pippa Middleton had thrown a "baby shower fit for a princess" with pink-iced cupcakes, pink cocktails and a huge white cake with pink sponge and strawberry filling.

Higher bump:

America'sHellomagazine claims the way the Duchess is carrying her unborn child is one "telltale" sign that a little princess is on the way. Apparently her bump looks higher and wider than at the same stage of her pregnancy with Prince George two years ago.

Odds on a girl:

Girls' names currently dominate the bookies' ten top spots for royal baby names. The favourites are Alice, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Victoria. James remains the most popular of the boys' names, but is still in fifth place overall. Recent additions to the top ten include Louis and Samantha. One Manchester punter has even placed a 10,000 bet on the baby being a girl, explaining: "My Mrs reckons it's a girl, so that's a good enough reason for me."

Sweet treats:

Charlotte Griffiths, diary editor for theMail On Sunday, claims the Duchess is convinced she is having a girl because she "can't stop scoffing sweet treats". Kate has developed a particular penchant for chocolate biscuit cakes and sticky fruit loaves, says Griffiths, and "according to an old wives' tale, if a pregnant woman has cravings for chocolate and biscuits, it is a sure sign that she is carrying a daughter".

Pink paint:

TheDaily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare has heard that Oxford-based designer Annie Sloan has recently supplied three "decidedly feminine" paint samples to Anmer Hall, currently home to the expectant couple. The colours were said to be Henrietta, a "beautiful rich complex pink with a hint of lilac"; Antoinette, a "soft pale pink with a hint of brown"; and Emile, a "warm soft aubergine colour with pink red undertones".

Nonsensical science:

Meanwhile,Bustlesuggests that, by having Prince George, Kate might have "set a precedent for having boys". This is somehow backed up by the fact that it is the father's sperm that determines the s*x of a baby and that William is one of two sons...

Royal baby: Kate Middleton's child is 'days overdue'

28 April

Royal baby number two is five days overdue, according to Whitehall sources, prompting speculation that Kate Middleton may have her labour induced in the next few days.

Sources have told theDaily Telegraphthey were briefed that the Duchess of Cambridge's due date was Thursday 23 April.

One parent whose children were born in the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington told the newspaper: "The doctors don't normally wait for more than a week.

"They will probably already have been in touch with Kate and talked about which day would suit her best to go in and be induced if the baby doesn't arrive in the next couple of days."

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's second child will be delivered by royal gynaecologists Guy Thorpe-Beeston and Alan Farthing. The two men helped deliver Prince George, who reportedly arrived three days late in July 2013.

Pat O'Brien, a spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told the Telegraph that it was "down to the individual consultant" as to when it is appropriate to induce labour. "Because it's such a safe procedure, particularly with women who have given birth before, they tend to be pretty relaxed about inducing any time after the due date if the mother is getting fed up," he said.

O'Brien added that doctors tend not to leave it more than two weeks after the due date and, if it is a big baby, it is sometimes better to induce before it gets any bigger.

"The mother will normally have a scan on or around the due date to make sure the baby is fine and it's safe to press on a bit longer," he said.

Alice is currently the bookies' favourite name for the new baby, followed by Charlotte and Elizabeth, with seven out of the top ten predictions going to female names.

Phillip has overtaken Henry as the third favourite boy's name, with James and Arthur in first and second place.

Royal 'superfans', some of whom have been camping outside the Lindo Wing for weeks, have received a special treat from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who arranged a delivery of croissants and Danish pastries from a local patisserie.

Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess were aware that they had been out there for a long time and just wanted to do something for them."

The boxes of pastries were reportedly wrapped in a pink ribbon, prompting speculation that Kate and William were hinting at the gender of their unborn child.

But theDaily Telegraphpoured cold water on the idea, quoting a source who said the patisserie "just happens to use pink ribbon".

Either way the royal fans camping outside St Mary's Hospital appreciated the gesture. "I was still asleep. It's lovely they've thought of us," said 79-year-old Terry Hutt, who has spent eight nights sleeping on a bench in a custom-made Union Jack suit.

Royal baby: how will Kate Middleton's child change the world?

15 April

A second wave of royal baby fever is on its way, as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prepare for the arrival of child number two later this month.

Media outlets across the world have been busy speculating on the baby's gender, Kate Middleton's due date and the impact that the "spare to the heir" will have on the election, economy and retail. (Prince George is apparently excited too, although he has been busy looking in the royal china cabinet after hearing his father was visiting China.)

So what can we expect when his little brother or sister arrives? Here are five predictions:

Fashion

The Kate Effect was swiftly followed by The George Effect. As soon as photos appear of Kate in a pair of LK Bennett shoes or Prince George in a Cath Kidston tank top, the tills can be heard ringing as demand skyrockets for their latest royal outfits. Prince George was even ranked among GQ's 50 Best Dressed Men in Britain. Will the second royal baby have as much impact on the fashion world as his or her older brother?

Markets

Whether the Duchess of Cambridge's second child is a boy or girl, it's likely to be good news for City, claims This is Money. The Dow Jones rose by an average of 2.4 per cent in the week following the births of Princesses Anne and Margaret and Queen Elizabeth, says the website. Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at CMC Markets, says: "Births in the royal family have been cause for celebration around the world. This can spill over into the stock markets as well."

Food and booze

Food and drink sales achieved their best performance for five years in July 2013 thanks in part to the arrival of Prince George, says The Grocer. A heatwave and several sporting wins for Britain were also given credit for the boost. "Sales of food and drink soared as consumers popped open the bubbly and held barbeques to celebrate the royal family's newest arrival, Murray's Wimbledon triumph and the warm delights of summer," said KPMG head of retail David McCorquodale. Will the second baby have a similar effect?

Election

Kate and William's second child is due mid-to-end of April, prompting speculation that it might arrive on election day and steer the polls. Gordon Rayner, chief reporter for the Daily Telegraph, has suggested an "election day baby" could help the Conservatives "as anything that gives the country a feel-good boost so close to polling day is usually regarded as a plus for whoever is in power".

London traffic

The Daily Express is predicting "traffic chaos" and "parking mayhem" in London as police put up barriers outside the hospital where Kate is due to give birth. Officials are trying to prevent journalists from camping outside the private Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, weeks before the birth as they did two years ago.

Royal baby: could an election day birth steer the polls?

19 March

The Duchess of Cambridge has revealed that her second child is due mid-to-end of April, prompting speculation that the royal baby might arrive on election day.

Kate Middleton was asked about her due date during a visit to Brookhill Children's Centre in Woolwich on Wednesday. She apparently told Christine Osborne, a 49-year-old volunteer at the centre: "I'm due mid-April, to the end of April. Not long to go now."

The new prince or princess is therefore set to arrive just weeks before Britain goes to the polls and perhaps on election day if it is a few days late.

"Two of the biggest media circuses are set to collide," warnsthe Spectator's Steerpike. He suspects political coverage will "grind to a halt for at least 24 hours as all media eyes turn once again to the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington".

Noting that it is customary for party leaders to send their congratulations to the Royal family after a birth, Steerpike wonders if Natalie Bennett, whose Green Party hopes to abolish the monarchy, will get round to sending a card.

"Is new royal baby the most politically charged in history?" asksthe Independent, pointing out that the Duke and Duchess confirmed the pregnancy just ten days before the Scottish referendum.

The newspaper suggests that the Tories will be hoping for a "boom in national pride and happiness with the status quo to make people vote Conservative".

Gordon Rayner, chief reporter for theDaily Telegraph, also thinks an "election day baby" could help David Cameron's party.

"That could be good news for the Conservatives," he says, "as anything that gives the country a feel-good boost so close to polling day is usually regarded as a plus for whoever is in power."

The Guardianhas previously noted that the baby could come as a birthday surprise for the Queen on 21 April or a wedding anniversary surprise for the Duke and Duchess on 29 April.

Source: http://www.theweek.co.uk/royal-baby/60312/royal-baby-named-today-charlotte-elizabeth-diana

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