Buckingham Palace sets plan should Kate Middleton go into early labor

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Well, Kate Middleton's baby is apparently due on my birthday, and if there's one good thing about having your birthday on July 11, it's that people don't tend to forget the date 7/11. But the royal fetus has a lot more going for it than a potentially awesome birthdate. You know, it has that whole "child of royalty" thing going for it.

But Buckingham Palace has a plan in place should Kate Middleton's royal baby arrive early, according to sources for Us Weekly. The pregnant Duchess of Cambridge has been splitting her time between Nottingham Cottage in London, and her home in Anglesey, Wales. In the event she goes into labor early, a helicopter would fly her 70 minutes away to St. Mary's Hospital in London. Once admitted, Kate is reportedly hoping to give birth naturally. However, an insider states "she will have a C-section" if complications arise.

So why the helicopter ride?

"Catherine really wants to be near [Prince William] in the final weeks," said an insider close to the situation. "It's important to her."

As previously reported, the royal baby's birth will be announced via a bulletin on an easel behind the gates of Buckingham Palace declaring, "Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a child." However, this traditional proclamation will be preempted by the official announcement of the birth on social media, in a break from the standard protocol. But no matter how the news is broken, there's going to be a celebration at the palace worthy of royalty. "There will be gun salutes, flag flying and bell pealing. It's very exciting," said a palace aide.

In addition, the palace aide promised that the royals "will pose with the baby for pictures," granting the world its first glimpse of the royal heir.

The royal couple with face a brief separation, as William will resume his Royal Air Force duties in Wales following the end of his two-week paternity leave, while Middleton and their baby will shuttle between London and her parents' home in Berkshire. However, the family is expected to move to Kensington Palace's Apartment 1A in September -- where a fully furnished and decorated nursery awaits the newborn royal.