Royal Baby Watch On In Britain, Photographers In Position

What’s being called “royal baby watch” is officially on in England, where monarchy fans and pop culture in general waits for Kate Middleton to go into labor and give birth to the first in a generation of new royals.

The royal baby watch fever has predictably spread to the US, where Kate’s comings and goings have been frequent tabloid covers as the young couple prepare for the baby’s birth.

One sign that the royal baby watch is heading into the final stretch is the presence of the media, outside the hospital where Kate is expected to go for the birth.

But Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine — a publication devoted to all things monarchy — says that Prince William is quite concerned that press intrusion like that experienced so extensively by his mother Princess Diana will interfere with the big day:

“Privacy is key for Prince William as he saw the way his mother, Princess Diana, suffered at the hands of the paparazzi, and he wants to make sure this does not happen to his wife or his own children.”

Reuters quoted Mark Stewart, a photographer who deals in images of the royal family. Stewart is currently on royal baby watch, with a ladder, and he explains the impetus in camping out as the baby’s arrival draws nearer:

“Globally there is huge interest in the royal baby, particularly in America, and I wanted to get a front row seat to world history.”

One aspect of the royal baby watch buzz pertains to the gender of the new arrival — while the couple has not announced explicitly whether the baby will be a boy or girl, a slip of the tongue earlier by Kate Middleton has led to widespread speculation that the couple is expecting the latter.