Kate's Coronation baby: Duchess's due date revealed as Saturday July 13... right in the middle of the Queen's party

Birth due date clashes with Coronation Festival, a four-day celebration to mark 60 years since the Queen was crowned
Satirist Ian Hislop, actor Harrison Ford, painter Frida Kahlo and Julius Caesar were all born on July 13

By Charlotte Griffiths and Flora Bradley-watson

PUBLISHED: 15:56 EST, 11 May 2013 | UPDATED: 01:35 EST, 13 May 2013

Swell: The Duchess of Cambridge showing her baby bump last month

It has been the most closely guarded secret surrounding the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy – the day on which the Royal baby is expected to be born.

But now The Mail on Sunday can disclose that Kate has been given an official due date of July 13.

Mystery has shrouded the expected date of birth ever since Kate was rushed into the King Edward VII hospital with severe morning sickness in December, early in the pregnancy.

Because of her illness, the Palace was forced to announce she was expecting before she had undergone her 12-week scan.

It meant no one outside Kate and William’s close circle knew exactly how far the pregnancy had progressed.

A friend of the pair revealed: ‘Some of Kate and William’s closest pals were at a barbecue hosted by a family friend of the Royals recently.

'They were all discussing the fact that Kate’s baby is due to be born on July 13. Everyone was very excited.’

Unfortunately, the birth due date falls in the middle of the Coronation Festival, a four-day celebration to mark 60 years since the Queen was crowned, 16 months after being proclaimed Monarch on her father’s death.

The festival, expected to rival last year’s jubilee revelries, runs from July 11 to July 14 – meaning William and Kate are almost sure to miss out.

Opera singer Laura Wright, who will perform in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, joked: ‘I had better not sing too many high notes . . . what if my singing made her go into labour?’

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The baby is expected to be delivered in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington – the same place William was born – under the supervision of Royal gynaecologists Alan Farthing and Marcus Setchell.

Kate waves as she arrive for a visit to the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland on April 4

Blossoming: Kate makes a speech at The Willows Primary School, Wythenshawe, Manchester on April 23 (left) and waving as she arrive for a visit to the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland on April 4

Just after the pregnancy was announced in December, bookmakers were taking bets on whether the baby might share a birthday with Princess Diana, July 1.

Now it appears the child will have a birthday closer to the Duchess of Cornwall’s, on July 17. Unless the baby is more than nine days late, it will be born under the same cancer star sign as Diana, an avid astrology follower.

July 13 is also the birthday of satirist Ian Hislop, actor Harrison Ford, painter Frida Kahlo and even Julius Caesar – although some historians argue that he may have been born the day before.

Good company: (L-R) Actor Harrison Ford, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop and Mexican artist Frida Kahlo were all born on July 13

Proposed changes to the rules of succession will mean that if the baby is a Princess, she will be third in line to the throne, regardless of whether she has a younger brother.

But The Mail on Sunday recently revealed Kate had purchased a pale blue Bugaboo buggy, fuelling speculation the child will be a boy.

A Palace spokesman said last night: ‘We have only said that the Duchess is due in July. Anything further would be speculation.’

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No matter the child's birth date nor sign, the baby will be special to Kate and William, and their families (royal or not) in the baby's own way. That should not be clouded by the late Princess Diana, the media, or their "titles". People should stop focusing on what once was or could have been, and start looking at the here, now, and future!

- kim herrera , San Antonio, United States, 13/5/2013 19:10

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'If you'd had hyperemesis gravidarum, you'd have had no choice in the matter of hospital admission. It is NOT "morning sickness". I was unable, for over five months and before medication was available, to keep even a sip of water down, vomiting up to 100 times a day on an empty stomach. I almost died of it. Charlotte Bronte DID die of it. Or was that being "over-dramatic"??? - CherryPink, South Oxfordshire, 12/5/2013 21:30' That's odd. Because Waity supposedly had this condition and whizzed off on a long haul holiday shortly after leaving hospital.

- Sara , Sussex, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 17:26

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CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! I hope she gives birth ON or NEXT to Princess Diane birthday!!! And that her first childs birthday makes her a CANCERIAN............Just like Princess Diane !!!! :-)

- Boosky64 , Ridgely, United States, 13/5/2013 16:44

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Looks like she is having a boy

- Crystal Palmer , Ithaca, United States, 13/5/2013 16:36

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Looks like a boy to me

- Crystal Palmer , Ithaca, United States, 13/5/2013 16:34

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She could go 3 weeks early or 2 weeks late and still be full term. I had my first baby (healthy 7lb 4oz) 2.5 weeks early. Due date is a best guess of what 40 weeks would be for a woman with a regular 28 day cycle. Babies will come when they are ready. A very small percentage are actually born (without help) on their due date.

- HawksMomma , Eastern Indiana, United States, 13/5/2013 16:32

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Wouldn't it be great if it came early - on PRICESS DIANA's birthday? July 1st???

- Pam Bolter , Palm COast, United States, 13/5/2013 16:26

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Who cares! The baby will be born when nature chooses. One thing that is for certain is that the poor baby won't have a moments peace from the media its whole life.

- jenny ex-pat , san francisco ca, United States, 13/5/2013 15:33

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Robbie5 are you deaf dumb and blind? Do you stick your head in a hole in January every 4 years when we have inaugurations in this country, Seriously? If any country has ridiculously expensive parties at the cost of the public it is the U.S.. Our leader seems to do nothing, but party, party and then party some more and you feel the need to offer criticism of the Brits for having a party to commemorate the coronation? Wow. You have some balls there buddy.

- PJ , Lincoln, United States, 13/5/2013 14:58

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Kate is not Royal and will never be Royal, she just happens to be married to a Prince but that doesn't make her Royal. - elisabeth , somerset, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 13:00 Actually it does make her royal. When marrying a royal, a woman takes on her husband's rank and style. He is styled HRH and so is she--Her ROYAL Highness. - bethrsmith , New York, United States, 13/5/2013 14:29######## Nah she is just a chav who a married title. You Americans are real sycophants.

- elisabeth , somerset, United Kingdom, 13/5/2013 14:43

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