Prince William and Duchess Kate Prepare for Baby No. 2
Duchess Kate is due to give birth this month.
— -- With a late-April due date for Duchess Kate Middleton just around the corner, royal baby fever and preparations for Prince William and Kate’s new bundle of joy are in full swing.
“I think they are really excited about the new baby,” said Victoria Murphy, ABC News’ royal contributor. “I think Prince Charles is particularly excited.”
As the new baby’s grandparents await his or her arrival, the soon-to-be-second-time parents, Kate and William, are getting their ducks in a row.
Duchess Kate, 33, is now officially on maternity leave after making her last official public appearance at three engagements with William in London on March 27.
William, 32, has begun his new role as a newly-minted air ambulance pilot.
Once the new baby is born, the family of four -- including big brother Prince George -- will spend time nesting at Anmer Hall, their 10-bedroom country mansion on the queen’s Norfolk, England, estate.
Until then, royal watchers are playing a royal guessing game as to whether the new baby will be a boy or a girl. Kate and William have not publicly revealed the baby’s gender, nor Kate’s exact due date.
Ladbrokes, a U.K.-based online gaming company, has said that “82 percent of all wagers” are now predicting “a princess is on the way.” Alice is also now the favorite name for a royal baby girl, according to Ladbrokes.
“That was the story over the weekend, that Kate and William had samples of pink paint sent to Amner Hall,” Murphy said. “We’ve heard about her out and about shopping, going to shops, buying things herself.”
“She’s very hands-on when it comes to decorating,” she said of Kate.
“Kate said when they were pregnant with George that William wanted a little girl, and Prince Charles has said that he wants a little girl this time, so it does seem to be pointing towards everyone wanting a little girl,” Murphy added. “But I do think ... they would be very happy if they had another boy.”