The Duchess of Cambridge has discussed having her third child either at Kensington Palace or their country home, Anmer Hall on the Queen’s Sandringham estate. Sources close to the Duke and Duchess revealed the news to Camilla Tominey from the Express.
Kate will give birth in April. She had Prince George in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in July 2013; Princess Charlotte followed in May of 2015.
Both Princes William and Harry were born there as well. If the Duchess does have a home birth with this child, it wouldn’t be the first time a royal had a baby at home. The Queen was born at her parents London home on Bruton street; Princess was born at Clarence House, and all of The Queen’s sons were born at Buckingham Palace.
Kate has suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum, a form of severe morning sickness with all her pregnancies, but her births have been straightforward. After having Prince George, she left the hospital the next day, and after giving birth to Princess Charlotte, she returned to Kensington Palace just ten short hours later.
“Catherine has said she would love to have her baby at home,” said a royal source in London.
“She has discussed it with William and he is being very supportive. They both think it would be lovely for the family to have a home birth, particularly for George and Charlotte.”
The source said the Royals have great concern of disrupting the day-to-day running of any hospital if she were to be a patient: “Above all they both agree that having a home birth would save a massive intrusion into the day to day running of any hospital where she gave birth.
“They were very concerned about the chaos caused with the first two children as hundreds of press and public camped outside for several days, and they would like to avoid a repeat if they could.
“They don’t think it’s fair on other patients at the hospital and people visiting their relatives.”
The community of midwives is rather small; buzz has been circulating on social media for months. One prominent midwife said: “It’s quite a small world and everyone seems to know this is what Kate wants.
“At the moment we are all expecting it to be at Kensington Palace, unless she goes into labour while up at Norfolk.”
It’s reported that the Duchess wanted to have Princess Charlotte at home, but was refused because she was the “spare” to George, the “heir”. There wouldn’t be any issue with this latest baby, and Prince William has said it would be ‘lovely for the family.’
The royal source added: “Obviously the third child would be down the pecking order and so there would be less pressure on William and Kate, but in the end they will do what they feel is best.”
Despite being healthy, Kate is over the age of 35 which does make automatically make the pregnancy high-risk. She may wish for a home birth but generally, such deliveries are advised to take place at a hospital.
Kensington Palace has yet to announce the plans.
