Thousands Gather Outside Hospital And Buckingham Palace In Wait For Arrival of Royal Baby

                        

After days outside the hospital wing where the Duchess of Cambridge was admitted this morning, the
wait is almost over for devoted royal watchers who have been camping alongside the media.


Monarchists from across Britain have patiently sat outside the maternity unit around the clock, waiting for Kate's arrival, next to journalists and camera crews penned in across the road from the private Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in west London.

After a 'Great Kate Wait' that went on for days, the Duchess of Cambridge finally arrived in a people carrier at 5.30am this morning and was taken into the maternity ward via a back door.

This afternoon there was a large police presence around the hospital as royal fans gathered as they waited for news about the soon-to-be mother and baby.

Meanwhile, hundreds gathered outside Buckingham Palace, where the official announcement of the baby's birth will be made.

                


Prime Minister David Cameron said it was 'very exciting' for the whole country that Kate had gone into labour, and William was to become a father.

Mr Cameron told the BBC: 'Best wishes to them, a very exciting occasion and the whole country is excited with them. So, everyone's hoping for the best.'


Speaking later on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour he said had been 'pretty involved' in the birth of his children. 'It's up to every family to work out how they want to do these things,' he added.


'I can't claim any role in this one, I'm afraid, except one small thing - well, it's a big thing actually - which is to get all of the heads of the realms over which our Queen is Queen, to agree that whatever the sex of the baby that Will and Kate have, if it's a girl, it will be our Queen.'

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, tweeted: 'My thoughts and prayers are with Kate and the whole family on this enormously special day.'

As news of the royal baby's imminent arrival broke this morning, tourists armed with cameras peered hopefully through the Buckingham Palace gates on the off-chance of spotting the easel that will reveal the new baby has been born.

                   

In Australia, a set of commemorative baby stamps has already been commissioned to mark the royal birth.


Lynette Traynor, a postal worker from Melbourne who is on holiday in London, said: 'We love everything to do with the royals, so the news is full of it.


'We have a set of baby stamps ready to go, as soon as it has been confirmed. We can't get enough of it.'


Another visitor to the Palace, 26-year-old German Veronika Schwarz, said she thought there was greater excitement outside of England.


'We don't have anything like the Royal Family in Germany, so we are all getting quite carried away with this.


'My friends in London seem like they just want the baby to come out now, I think they are tired of waiting.'


Terry Hutt, 78,has been camped on a wooden bench opposite the street entrance to the Lindo Wing, St Mary’s private maternity unit for the last 12 days.


The retired carpenter from Cambridge has been a familiar fixture at major royal events for years, always dressed head to toe in Union Jack clothes beneath a Union Jack umbrella hat. The Royal Family, he says, know him as ‘The Umbrella Man’.

Terry has been outside for so long that, a few days ago, he felt compelled to take himself back to Cambridge for a bath and a change of clothes.


The former soldier, who served with the Royal Ordnance Corps, is sleeping on a bench across the road from the Lindo Wing.


'I have the best royal bed in town,' he said. 'I have lost my voice with all the excitement. At night we're watching the hospital in two-hour stints, like the Army. The health of the baby, and Kate, is the only important element.'


Mr Hutt is wearing a Union flag suit and tie which a Dutch firm donated to him.


'My trousers are 10 inches too long,' he said, adding that his wife of 51 years, Joy, thinks he is a bit mad.


The septuagenarian has been joined outside the hospital by 'Diana Superfan' John Loughrey, 58, from Wandsworth, south-west London.


'I'm so excited I'm like a washing machine - I'm on full spin,' he said. 'I can't stop spinning. I've been here for seven days and heard gossip overnight that Kate was here. If it's a girl I think Diana will be the middle name.


'If it's a boy I believe Charles will be the name, because he has nurtured William and Harry.'

Carly Gargett, 31, an event manager from Sydney, Australia, who lives in London, was also outside the hospital this morning.

The crowd is likely to grow throughout the day as people try and get a first glimpse of the royal baby.

Miss Gargett said: 'I have been doing live Facebook updates to all my friends back in Australia.

'They were texting me this morning saying "What's going on?" because I'd missed it happening so early.




FrankellyMyDearIDontGiveADamn wrote: 'Glad it's been confirmed. Soppy cow that I am I've just had a little cry over the news. In my defence I'm 8 weeks pregnant with my first and my emotions are all over the place!'


Another user, Gobbolinothewitchscat, added: 'Seriously, it's a shame she's in the early stages. Best to stay at home as long as poss.'


Pat and Norman Bate took two months to get to St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington because the retired fruit and vegetable merchants travelled from their Liverpool home to London via Britain’s canal network at four mph.

Their 55ft canal boat Ellie May, is moored just behind the royal hospital, filled with bagfuls of cards and presents for the baby, and its cabin draped with bunting.

‘As soon as we heard Kate was pregnant, I said that we should aim to get there for the birth, so we left home on May 1,’ Mrs Bate said.

‘And we hope to be here as long as it takes. After all, we’re not paying for a hotel.’