With an expected due date of today, Twitter and social media has been abuzz that the Duchess of Cambridge is in labor with the royal baby. HollywoodLife has the exclusive scoop on what's going on, and what the royal palace has to say.
Rumors began flying that Kate Middleton was in labor on July 11, as some claimed they spotted an emergency helicopter outside of she and husband Prince William's house in Nottingam Cottage on the grounds of Kensington Palace.
"Kate Middleton said to be in labor after emergency helicopter lands at Kensington Palace (via @betvictor) #RoyalBaby," one royal fan tweeted several days ago, which was retweeted 25 times.
If Middleton had decided to stay in Wales with her husband, the plan would be to fly her to London in a helicopter. However, Middleton has elected to spend the final days of her pregnancy tucked safely in the confines of Kensington Palace while Prince William is stationed in Wales as a royal Air Force Search and Rescue pilot.
Since the birth of the royal baby (even the Duke and Duchess don't yet know the gender) is the biggest event of the summer, it is little wonder that fans and the media are willing to see what they want to see, eager for the action to begin. Reporters have already been camping out in front of the private Lindo wing of St. Mary's Hospital for days as the countdown continues.
However, the helicopter sighting reported on Twitter was a false alarm, and the palace told HollywoodLife exclusively: "We do not comment on ongoing speculation."
"We were called to two other incidents in the area. There's nothing else of significance relating to the royal birth," a spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service (LAS) told DigitalSpy.com.
Though the news surely disappointed many, others found humor in the situation.
"Kate Middleton Is In Labor According To The Ultra Reliable Source Of Twitter," @mommyishdotcom tweeted.
"Courtesy of Twitter I've learned Kate Middleton is in labor under hypnosis in a birthing pool while wearing 3 dresses." @AnnapolisPrep tweeted.
When the Duchess does go into labor, it will set off an official chain of events: she will be taken to St. Mary's Hospital via helicopter, while an armed security guard stands outside of the Lindo wing. An official release and tweet will be sent from the palace following the birth, though the details of the royal baby will be revealed on an official paper on a golden easel outside of Buckingham Palace's gates.
