The hospital is ready, the Wikipedia page and Twitter accounts are up and Britain’s famously creative press is running out of ideas. But there was still no sign of the royal baby on Sunday.
Prince William is filling the time until his wife Catherine goes into labour by playing polo and taking part in charity matches. He has taken a couple of days off from work as a search and rescue helicopter pilot in Wales, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said.
The palace has stayed tight-lipped about the birth of the new third in line to the throne, saying nothing for days other than to reiterate that Catherine is due some time in mid-July.
The press had pencilled in Saturday as the day, but bookmakers William Hill tipped Sunday as the likely date, with Paddy Power offering equal odds on Sunday and Monday.
The only thing that is certain is that babies rarely come on time - and that when this new heir to the Windsor dynasty finally arrives, the world will be ready.
In keeping with the digital age, the newborn already has its own page on Wikipedia entitled “Child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”, to use William and Kate’s formal titles.
{{/usCountry}}In keeping with the digital age, the newborn already has its own page on Wikipedia entitled “Child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”, to use William and Kate’s formal titles.
{{/usCountry}}Several spoof Twitter accounts have also been set up, with one, @RoyalFoetus, already claiming 5,500 followers. On June 19, it declared: “One is done with gestating.”
Camera crews and photographers from around the world have been camped for two weeks outside St Mary’s Hospital in London where Catherine, 31, is due to give birth.