The Duchess of Cambridge plans to give birth naturally and may even have her mother and sister at her side when she goes into labour, it emerged last night.

Kate, 31, who is expecting her first baby in a month's time, will give birth in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington West London, where Prince William was born in 1982.

Kate is particularly keen to have the support of her family around her because father-to-be William, also 31, may be on duty in North Wales, where he is still working as a Search and Rescue pilot at RAF Valley on Anglesey, when the baby arrives.

你覺得凱特王妃和威廉王子的第一個(gè)孩子會(huì)是小公主還是小王子？參與討論>>>

William is said to be determined to make it to the delivery suite 'by hook or by crook', following in the footsteps of his own father who broke royal tradition to be with his wife Princess Diana for the birth of both their children.

It is understood that contingency plans have been put in place with other hospitals, such as the Royal Berkshire in Reading, in case the duchess goes into labour when visiting her parents.

Palace sources have made it clear that the birth will not be made public until the Queen and senior royals have been informed. Sources insisted that, contrary to much speculation, the couple had chosen not to find out the sex of their baby beforehand.

It is also hoped that William will make a short statement on the steps of the hospital. A royal spokesman said: 'While it is a deeply personal and private event, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge realise this is a time of national celebration and that there will be vast interest in the baby.'

【新聞快訊】

英國王室官員日前表示，王妃并沒有選擇剖腹產(chǎn)，而是將于7月中旬在倫敦圣瑪麗醫(yī)院以順產(chǎn)的方式分娩。據(jù)悉，威廉夫婦至今仍不知道胎兒的性別。據(jù)英國媒體6月20日?qǐng)?bào)道，凱特將在圣瑪麗醫(yī)院生產(chǎn)，她計(jì)劃住在林多（Lindo）院區(qū)的私人病房。1982年6月21日，威廉王子就是在這里出生的。

有消息人士透露，凱特生產(chǎn)時(shí)威廉王子可能在北威爾士執(zhí)行任務(wù)，因此凱特希望自己的母親和妹妹能陪在身邊?，F(xiàn)年31歲的威廉王子是英國皇家空軍基地的營救飛行員。不過威廉表示，他決定無論如何都會(huì)回來陪妻子生產(chǎn)，就像自己的父親當(dāng)年陪伴戴安娜王妃生產(chǎn)一樣。

此外，王室工作人員還披露，威廉夫婦并沒有提前想辦法獲知胎兒的性別。威廉王子將在凱特生產(chǎn)后安排兩周的育嬰假，之后返回工作崗位，凱特出院的時(shí)間將視她的身體狀況決定，目前尚未決定凱特與嬰兒出院后將在哪里休養(yǎng)。

白金漢宮一名官員表示：“威廉夫婦意識(shí)到那將是一個(gè)舉國歡慶的時(shí)刻，很多人都想共同分享這份喜悅。王位繼承人的誕生是非常重要的時(shí)刻，因此歡慶這一歷史性的重大時(shí)刻是非常值得的！”