- .Camilla told crowd in Cornwall that royal baby is expected this week
- .Prince Charles and Duchess of Cornwall in Westcountry for annual visit
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The world’s press corps has been camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital for a fortnight, while social media is awash with rumours that the Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labour.
Now the Duchess of Cornwall has given the strongest hint yet that a new royal baby is imminent, telling well-wishers to expect a bundle of joy by the ‘end of the week’.
Chatty Camilla let slip the royal secret during a visit to Little Harbour children’s hospice at Porthpean, near St Austell, Cornwall.
Visit: Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were in Bude, Cornwall, on their annual trip to the Westcountry
Grandfather-to-be: The Prince seemed thrilled to meet 16-month-old Jasmine Marsh and her mother Jessica
Secret's out: Camilla told the crowd they were expecting a grandchild 'by the end of the week'
Warm welcome: Schoolchildren in Bude waved flags as they waited for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall
Honour: The couple were presented with flowers by Fairy Queen Amber Clay and Fairy Princess Emily Hardy, both aged 10
Surf's up: The Prince of Wales chatted with local surfers as he visited Bude as part of Cornwall Week
She and husband, Prince Charles, are in the West Country for their annual ‘Cornwall Week’, meeting locals and highlighting the work of worthy causes.
The couple started off in Bude Town Centre where Camilla, who already has five young grandchildren of her own, was particularly taken with some of the young fans they met.
Many mothers brought their babies to meet them including Trudi Lindsay, with her three-week-old daughter Ellie-Mae, who told Charles: ‘You have got one of these coming soon’, to which the prince replied: ‘Hopefully!’
Camilla, however, was much more forthcoming as she unveiled a plaque to mark her visit to the hospice, aided by 13-year-old Alex Smith, who suffers from spinal muscular astrophy.
Anticipation: Press have been camped outside St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, for days waiting for the arrival of the royal baby
Pack: The press pen is full of reporters from around the world waiting for the news that the Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labour
All set: The press pen outside the hospital has been equipped with everything the reporters need
Hedging her bets: Royal supporter Margaret Tyler is waiting for news of the birth before choosing which balloon she will wave
As she gave an impromptu speech to the assembled guests, she said: ‘We are all just waiting by the telephone. We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here.’
A Clarence House spokeswoman later confirmed the comment.
William and Kate’s private office at Kensington Palace have refused to confirm the Duchess’s exact due date, although Kate herself let slip during a public walkabout earlier this year that it is ‘mid July’.
Sources have told the Daily Mail that her due date was, in fact, today, which would tie in with Camilla’s confidence that the baby will make an appearance this week.
Expecting: The Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth any day now
Together: After spending the weekend playing polo, William is now back at his wife's side in Kensington
It is understood that William now has a few days off from his work as an RAF Search and Rescue pilot in North Wales.
Following two long-standing charity polo matches at the weekend, during which the Duchess decided stay with her parents in Berkshire, he and his wife will now remain at their Kensington Palace residence for a few days.
The palace is just a few minutes’ drive from St Mary’s in Paddington where Kate is hoping to have a natural birth.
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