Palace says Duchess of Cambridge in hospital for birth

Kate Middleton in early stages of labor, officials say; Britain bets on baby girl

By AP 2 May 2015, 9:11 am
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, in Auckland, New Zealand in 2014. (Prince William and Kate Middleton image via Shutterstock).

Officials say Prince William’s wife Kate has been admitted to a London hospital for the birth of the couple’s second child.

In a brief statement, Kensington Palace officials announced Saturday that the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital.

The baby will be a younger brother or sister to William and Kate’s first child, Prince George, who was born in July 2013 at the same hospital.

Dozens of journalists and avid royalists have been waiting for days outside central London’s St. Mary’s Hospital for any news of the duchess going into labor.

Shortly after the announcement, British PM posted a tweet wishing the Duchess well.


An employee of Ladbrokes betting company is interviewed by a member of the media as she stands by a blackboard with the odds of the sex and name of the upcoming royal baby outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s hospital in central London where Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is expected to give birth to her second child. (Photo credit: AFP/ LEON NEAL)

The couple has said that they don’t know whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.  That’s sparked a flood of bets placed with Britain’s bookmakers. Even though there has been no evidence either way, most betters are confident it’s a girl.

Under new laws governing succession, the new baby will be fourth in line for the British throne regardless of its sex behind Prince Charles, William, and George.

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