Royal Baby Watch: David Beckham's Request, Camilla Talks Due Date, more
Credit: AP Images
Royal Baby Watch is in full swing, as citizens around the world anxiously await the birth of Kate Middleton and Prince William's child.
The child's due date was initially announced as July 11, before a revised due date was listed as July 13. Now the Duchess of Cambridge is past due, sending some into an anxious fit of anticipation. The byproduct of all this waiting is that we have a plethora of stories to talk about in relation to the long-awaited birth. Let's check them out, shall we?
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Neil P. Mockford/Getty Images
Brand It Like Beckham
E! News is reporting that retired British soccer star David Beckham, who attended William and Kate's wedding in 2011 with his wife Victoria, has some advice for the expectant parents: Name the child after me.
"David's pretty good...if it's a boy of course," he told Britain's Sky News.
Of course, the comment was all in good fun, as the 38-year-old soccer star went on to praise his friends on their future parenting skills.
"They're going to be amazing parents because they are so loving towards children," said Beckham. "We've seen William grow from that young boy into an unbelievable gentleman. And that, as a father, is really important."
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The World's Wealthiest Fetus
In a piece of news that would likely put Blue Ivy Carter and North West to shame, it turns out the unborn royal heir is already a billionaire.
Economic Times is reporting that a global intelligence firm on ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals has estimated that the royal baby could inherit as much as 1 billion pounds in royal legacy.
Wealth-X (yes, that's the actual name of the firm) found that the unborn child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is already a billionaire given the fortunes of the immediate members of the British royal family, such as great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, great grandfather Prince Philip, grandfather Prince Charles and father Prince William.
Queen Elizabeth II is reported to have a personal net worth of USD 660 million, while Prince Charles is estimated at around USD 370 million, with William lagging behind at USD 20 million (my heart breaks for him, truly).
The royal baby, who will be third in line to the throne and the future King or Queen of England, is expected any time now.
Credit: John Stillwell - WPA Pool/Getty Images
Camilla Confirms Due Date While Kate Gets Comfy
Kensington Palace has been hesitant to officially confirm the expected due date, but Camilla Parker-Bowles may have just confirmed that we were all in the right ballpark.
Us Weekly reports that the Duchess of Cornwall has confirmed that the royal heir is due this week. During a visit to Little Harbour children's hospice at Porthpean near St Austell, Cornwall on Monday, Prince Charles and stepmom Camilla shared an update on the status of Kate Middleton's pregnancy.
"We are all just waiting by the telephone," said Camilla, 65, in a speech to guests. "We are hopeful that by the end of the week he or she will be here."
During the visit, Prince Charles happily greeted the three-week-old daughter of well-wisher Trudi Lindsay. "You have got one of these coming soon," Lindsay said. "Hopefully!" Charles replied.
As for Middleton herself, the Duchess of Cambridge is keeping comfortable by leaving Nottingham Cottage to stay at her parents' house in Bucklebury, Berkshire to escape the summer heat.
"It was just too warm in Nott Cott," an insider said of the situation, as Nottingham Cottage apparently lacks air conditioning. "She decided to spend the weekend with mum and dad. Much more comfortable."
Credit: Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images
The Waiting Name
Expectant mothers throughout the UK are reportedly refusing to name their children until Kate Middleton names hers first, according to The Courant.
Discount shopping website Netvouchercodes.co.uk, conducted a survey of around 440 new moms and found that more than 10 percent are hoping to postpone naming their babies until Clarence House announces the royal baby's name, according to a press release obtained by The Huffington Post.
Of course, this could mean a lot of British babies go nameless for a while. Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana spent a week before settling on the name William, while Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip took even longer naming Prince Charles, spending a full month mulling over the possibilities.
However, the mothers-to-be have plenty of time to wait it out. Moms can take up to six weeks before they must legally decide on a name. That said, they can name their child now if they don't feel like waiting -- by making an educated guess at the eventual name based on the current betting odds.
Coral Bookmakers, a U.K. bookmaking firm, revealed to PEOPLE that the odds are currently favoring a baby girl with the name Charlotte (in honor of Prince Charles). However, there are other picks in the running, such as Alexandra, Elizabeth and Diane. If the child is a boy, bettors are putting their money on either George or Frances. However, it's also been speculated that, male or female, one of the child's middle names could be Spencer, the maiden name of the late Princess Diana. Regardless of the eventual naming choice, the anticipation is reaching a fever pitch among expectant mothers.
“My husband and I have decided to wait to see what the royal baby is called before naming ours," said one pregnant survey respondent. “We have thought of quite a few names but we both decided it would be lovely to see what Will and Kate choose first. I love the name Alexandra, so if we have a girl then it may well be the most straightforward decision we have to make."
Another woman said, “My baby is due before the royal baby, but I already know I definitely want it to have the same name. The birth of Will and Kate’s baby is such a monumental event that is going to be remembered forever, just like the royal wedding. Giving my baby the same name is my personal way of celebrating.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Netvouchercodes.co.uk told HuffPo in a statement, "The birth of the royal baby is hugely exciting; when someone famous has a baby the naming of it can be important to many people," a spokesperson for said in a statement sent to HuffPost. "Whatever name the royal couple choose there is no doubt that there will be thousands of babies who will also share the same name."
Media outlets from around the world are currently camped outside St. Mary's Hospital in London, though reports continue to conflict as to whether Middleton has actually arrived there, or if she's still relaxing at her parents' house. Regardless, the media isn't going anywhere, as they await the birth of the heir at the same hospital where Prince William was born 31 years ago. The child will be delivered by Marcus Setchell, the Queen's former gynecologist. I'm sure he's anxiously awaiting the opportunity to tell Kate she's crowning.