Inside the £10,000 hospital suite where Kate will give birth: Baby will arrive in the same ward where William was born (and meet the doctors who will deliver the new royal)

Kate to give birth at Lindo Wing at St Mary's in Paddington, west London
Prince William was born at same wing in 1982, while Harry was delivered there over two years later

By Nick Enoch and Rebecca English, Royal Correspondent

PUBLISHED: 10:00 EST, 19 June 2013 | UPDATED: 12:03 EST, 19 June 2013

173

View
comments

Like the late Princess Diana before her, the Duchess of Cambridge has chosen to have her baby at the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s in Paddington, west London, royal sources revealed today - where staying in a private suite for a natural birth is likely to cost up to £10,000.

The internationally renowned wing, where Princes William and Harry were born, is a dedicated private facility which caters for complex pregnancies and deliveries, as well as multiple births.

Deluxe rooms or a suite are available on request - and each one is fitted with satellite TV, a radio, a safe, bedside phone and fridge.

Following the royal baby's arrival, Kate and her guests can choose from a comprehensive wine list should they wish to enjoy a glass of Champagne and a toast.

The internationally renowned wing - where Princes William and Harry were born - is a dedicated private facility (file picture)

The internationally renowned Lindo wing - where Princes William and Harry were born - is a dedicated private facility at St Mary's hospital in Paddington, west London. It caters for complex pregnancies and deliveries, as well as multiple births (above, file picture of a room in the wing)

Following the royal baby's arrival, Kate and her guests can choose from a comprehensive wine list should they wish to enjoy a glass of Champagne and a toast

Following the royal baby's arrival, Kate and her guests at St Mary's can choose from a comprehensive wine list should they wish to enjoy a glass of Champagne and a toast

The Duchess will also be able to access the internet and have a choice of daily newspapers delivered to her room each morning throughout her stay.

And if the new mum has any special dietary requests, a dedicated kitchen staff will be on hand to cater to her needs.

The Lindo Wing has a team of maternity support workers and nursery nurses who can offer advice and reassurance to all new mothers staying there.

The Lindo Wing has a team of maternity support workers and nursery nurses who can offer advice and reassurance to all new mothers staying there

PRICES AT THE LINDO WING

Antenatal care
Day case accommodation

Up to one hour: £75
Up to three hours, £200
More than three hours: £400
Antenatal care overnight: £900
Parent education (five classes): £350

Consultant-led care packages
(Cost of additional night – per room)

First 24hrs normal delivery package: £4,965 (Cost of extra night: £900 for superior package; £1,050 for deluxe)
First 24hrs instrumental delivery: £5,500 (Cost of extra night: £900 for superior package; £1,050 for deluxe package)
First 24hrs caesarean section:(emergency or planned): £6,420
(Cost of extra night: £900 for superior package; £1,050 for deluxe package)
Suite prices and information available on request and subject to availability

The wing provides expert consultant-led obstetric, neonatal care and anaesthetist care with 24-hour access to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust’s state-of-the-art maternal and foetal specialist services.

Part of the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, St Mary's is described as having 'modern, consultant-led world-class care'.

More...

The hospital also has a special care section, The Winnicott Baby Unit.

It can look after up to 18 babies at a time in intensive care, high dependency or special care.

Around 350 premature or sick newborn babies are cared for each year by the multidisciplinary team .

The Lindo Wing was re-opened in June 2012 after extensive refurbishment.

Prince William was born at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982, weighing 7lb 1.5oz in the same wing.

He made his public debut with his parents outside the hospital, wrapped in a white blanket carried in the arms of his mother Diana, with the Prince of Wales at their side.

Harry was born in the same exclusive wing just over two years later.

Prince William was born at 9.03pm on June 21, 1982, weighing 7lb 1.5oz in the same wing. He is seen here leaving St Mary's with Princess Diana and Prince Charles

Calling Doctors Farthing and Setchell: The Royal delivery duo

The Queen’s current surgeon-gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, and Alan Farthing, the surgeon-gynaecologist to the royal household, are both playing key roles throughout Kate's pregnancy.

Mr Setchell will take the lead for Kate's delivery, assisted by Mr Farthing.

Consultant Mr Farthing, 47, is the former fiance of murdered television presenter Jill Dando and took up his role in the royal household in 2008. This is the first royal pregnancy since his appointment.

Mr Setchell, 69, treated Kate for her severe morning sickness last December.

Elite: Royal surgeon-gynaecologists Alan Farthing (left) and Marcus Setchell (right) will lead in the baby's delivery

Elite: Royal surgeon-gynaecologists Alan Farthing (left) and Marcus Setchell (right). Mr Setchell will take the lead for Kate's delivery, assisted by Mr Farthing

Mr Setchell has been a royal surgeon-gynaecologist for 18 years and cared for Sophie, Countess of Wessex, delivering her two babies, Lady Louise Windsor, now nine, and Viscount Severn, four.

The Countess collapsed and was close to death when Lady Louise was born prematurely in 2003, after the placenta ruptured the lining of the womb.

Mr Setchell also led the medical care following her ectopic pregnancy in 2001.

He performed the Duchess of Cornwall’s hysterectomy in 2007 at the King Edward VII Hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was treated for her morning sickness.

In recognition of his work, the father-of-four was awarded a personal honour by the Queen in 2004 when he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

When Mr Farthing took on his role for the royal household in 2008, he became one of the youngest doctors to treat the royal family.

He was reported to have met the Duchess last year after her wedding to Prince William.

Mr Farthing qualified as a doctor in 1986. He became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1991, and a fellow in 2003.

In 1997, he became a consultant gynaecologist at St Mary’s Hospital and an honorary senior lecturer at Imperial College, London.

He is a specialist in gynaecological cancer care and an internationally recognised expert in keyhole surgery.

Mr Farthing went on to open his own private Harley Street practice and works as a consultant at two teaching hospitals in London, Queen Charlotte’s in Shepherd’s Bush and St Mary’s.

Prince William and his brother Harry were delivered by Mr Setchell’s predecessor, the late Sir George Pinker, who delivered nine royal babies between 1973 and 1990.

Mr Farthing was engaged to Crimewatch presenter Miss Dando when she was murdered in 1999, five months before they were due to marry. The couple met at a dinner party in 1997 and announced their engagement in 1999.

Miss Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in April that year and her murder remains unsolved.

Add your comments

Comments (175)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

No shortage of beds or midwifes there

- usedtorulethewaves , Leeds, 20/6/2013 06:23

Click to rate Rating 2

Why do you always have to sensationalise you headlines? "£10,000 a night"...

- Common Sense , London, United Kingdom, 20/6/2013 06:18

Click to rate Rating 1

I'm sorry to say although the NHS is adequate and we are lucky to have it I would go private every time! It took a private gynaecologist to sort out my woes which the NHS kept treating with painkillers!

- Cleo , Surrey, United Kingdom, 20/6/2013 05:32

Click to rate Rating 10

This is just strange. Meet the doctors, not to posh to push, she purchased this basket or this blanket.... Really??? She's a pregnant woman. She is going to have a doctor and/or a midwife. She is going to have a C-section or she will have to push. She is going to buy a blanket. It will be a boy or a girl. What do these stories really reveal? NOTHING. There are starving people in the world. When you have an interesting story, publish it. Until then give it a rest. Prince Harry is interesting. Why can't we see more of him and hear about his work for wounded soldiers? That's a very important cause. And before anyone calls me a hypocrite, I did not read this story. I skimmed it and then wrote this comment.

- FL Living , Emerald Coast, 20/6/2013 05:20

Click to rate Rating 13

Payed for by yours truly, the tax payer. We pay for the NHS and now we have to pay for private, this makes no sense. Oh yes, now I remember we are just peasants, couldnt expect anymore for peasants.

- Senghhhh , Bhamm, United Kingdom, 20/6/2013 05:10

Click to rate Rating 6

Pippa doesn't need to be there, but I can understand her mother being with her, until William shows up. Then the family should give the two of them privacy and go wait outside.

- Ronnie254 , New York, 20/6/2013 04:55

Click to rate Rating 13

What's with all the defensive Americans on here lately trying to pretend ANYTHING in their country is superior? Go back to the National Enquirer website where you belong. This site is for people who want to discuss the news story, not blow their own ridiculous horn.

- Jellybeanz , Somewhere Over Here, Canada, 20/6/2013 04:51

Click to rate Rating 4

For those of you complaining about a 'two tier' health care and all that... most countries have private and public hospitals so I don't see what the big deal is. If I was about to have a baby and had the option of a birthing suite I'd take it too ! Good for them... and good luck to them!

- Ashley , Alberta, Canada, 20/6/2013 04:35

Click to rate Rating 13

Cheaper than Hong Kong. Cost us about 20% more than that there!

- Ian , Dongguan, 20/6/2013 04:10

Click to rate Rating 6

This will be product of the fertilisation that took place 9 months ago. We are all awaiting eagerly to see what it looks like.

- LiveWell , Dublin, Ireland, 20/6/2013 03:23

Click to rate Rating 11

Share this comment

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.