Kate Middleton was today admitted to hospital in labour as she prepares to give birth to her third child.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 36, was driven from Kensington Palace to St Mary's Hospital in west London where their other two children, George and Charlotte, were also born.

Fans decked out in Union Jack clothing have stationed themselves out the hospital hoping for the first glimpse of the newest member of the Royal Family.

Kate's pregnancy may have felt lower key than her previous two, not least with the prospect of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding in May taking the limelight.

But the hospital has been busy making preparations for their royal patient.

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With the sickness of the early weeks of her pregnancy behind her, and, with Princess Charlotte now at nursery, Kate had a busy start to 2018 with plenty of official engagements - meaning lots of opportunities for mums-to-be to take inspiration from Kate's maternity wardrobe.

Her final royal duty before going on maternity leave was a visit to the Olympic Park for a SportAid event on 22 March, followed by a Commonwealth Big Lunch and Commonwealth quiz.

And there was one last chance for bump spotting as she joined the royal family at Windsor for an Easter Sunday service.

We look ahead to when we can expect the new royal arrival...

What was Kate's due date?

Kate handed out shamrocks on St Patrick's Day on 17 March, as she entered the final weeks of her pregnancy (
Image:
Getty)

Kensington Palace only ever confirmed April was the month of the due date when they announced the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were "delighted" to be expecting their third child. That announcement came on 17th October - presumably after the 12-week scan.

Generally, expectant mums wait until the 12 week marker before letting the world know they are pregnant, due to the higher risk of miscarriage before that stage.

Kate looked slimmer than ever at Kensington Palace a week before the announcement of her third pregnancy, suggesting she is in the very early stages (
Image:
Splash News)

Kate's tendency to hyperemesis gravidarum, severe morning sickness which is usually worst between eight and 12 weeks, has meant her pregnancies being announced early. Cancelled public engagements - and in the case of her pregnancy with Prince George, a hospital stay - tend to need explanation when you are royalty.

Kate's third pregnancy was initially announced on September 4, with a visit to a London children's centre cancelled due to her sickness.

Kate's second pregnancy was announced on 8 September 2014 and she gave birth to Princess Charlotte on 2 May 2015.

Temporary parking restrictions were put in place outside the Lindo Wing from Monday 9 April to 30 April. Last time around, the parking restrictions had to be extended by five days from the original period, which had run from April 15 to 30.

But baby three seems to have kept better to schedule - and is set to delight fans who predicted a St George's Day arrival.

How does that fit in with the royal wedding?

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Image:
REUTERS)

Harry and Meghan are getting married in Windsor on May 19, so whatever date the baby eventually arrives, it will still be very little.

Kate marshaled all the children acting as page boys and flower girls for sister Pippa last year, but she is likely to have her hands full enough with a newborn this year.

Will it be a boy or a girl?

Will George and Charlotte have a little brother or sister? (
Image:
Getty)

We have absolutely no idea, and nor does anyone else if they're honest. Some people got incredibly excited when Kate appeared wearing a blue dress for her first public engagement after the pregnancy announcement. No wonder she picked pink for her second outing.

That won't stop people betting on it, though. And Kate wearing a pink Mulberry coat from her pregnancy with Charlotte for a trip to Coventry in January led bookies to cut the odds on Kate having a girl.

Last time around people got it right after it was reported Kate had been spotted shopping for pink baby clothes and some paint samples traditionally used for girls had arrived at the couple's home.

What will the baby be called?

Alice, Arthur and James are the leading choices - with Thomas a surprise pick as the favourite for Paddy Power.

Mary led the betting in the later months of Kate's pregnancy. A common name amongst royals, Mary is one of the Queen’s middle names and also her grandmother’s name.

Alice was the bookies' early favourite - but they said that last time around. Alice is a traditional royal name and is the middle name of Princess Anne and Prince Edward's daughter Lady Louise.

You can probably count out Diana, though, as it is one of Charlotte's middle names, as is Elizabeth.

Victoria would be another classic royal name - and is the leading choice so far among Mirror readers.

When it comes to boys, Arthur was the early favourite with the bookies, but Fredrick and Albert moved ahead with some bookmakers. Philip has also grown in popularity with some bookmakers, particularly since he was admitted for hip surgery.

George already has Alexander and Louis as his middle names, so those are unlikely options.

Bookies are taking bets, with William Hill giving the royal baby name odds as:

  • Mary 3-1
  • Alice 6-1
  • Victoria 8-1
  • Elizabeth 12-1
  • Albert 14-1
  • Arthur 14-1
  • Fred/Frederick 14-1
  • Alexandra 16-1
  • Grace 16-1
  • James 16-1
  • Phillip 16-1
  • Alexander 20-1
  • Catherine 20-1
  • Diana 20-1
  • Henry 20-1

As for the least favourite names, well, the sky is the limit.

But William Hill have listed Wayne, Chardonnay and the almost-extinct Nigel as some unlikely choices.

Pod Save The Queen

Don't miss the Mirror's regular royal podcast Pod Save The Queen, with royal correspondent Victoria Murphy and host Ann Gripper.

Listen on iTunes, Audioboom and your favourite podcast apps.

Catch up with Episode 1 - Royal Wedding Bells for Meghan and Harry.

Will the royal baby have a title?

Prince William was given a title of his own on his wedding day (
Image:
Daily Mirror)

Prince William and Kate (who can be called Princess William) are known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after they were given titles on their wedding day.

Their children do not have titles of their own, but are HRH Prince George and HRH Princess Charlotte - and baby three will follow the same pattern.

William and Kate's third child will be fifth in line to the throne - with the new succession rules meaning Charlotte trumps a younger sibling whatever their gender.

Where will the baby be born?

Prince George and Princess Charlotte both arrived in the Lindo Wing, the private maternity unit at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington - and baby Cambridge 3 is set to arrive there too.

Temporary parking restrictions were put in place on Monday 9 April. The restrictions expire on April 30.

Kate took her own doctors along previously - with the royal babies delivered by the royal gynaecologists.

It had been reported Kate might be keen for a home birth this time around, after making enquiries during her second pregnancy and having two trouble-free labours.

There is plenty of royal tradition for giving birth at home: the Queen had her four children at Buckingham Palace and was herself born at 17 Bruton Street, home of her maternal grandparents, where she arrived by caesarean section. Queen Victoria was born at Kensington Palace, where the Cambridges now live after moving from their Norfolk base in time for George to start school.

What will the baby's star sign be?

Will the baby be a Taurus like Princess Charlotte? (
Image:
Getty)

There are two signs of the Zodiac in contention: Aries and Taurus, which starts on April 20.

Big sister Charlotte is a Taurus, represented by a bull. Astrologists rate people born under Taurus as reliable, practical, and dependable, loyal and stable, calm and generally placid - until their temper gets the better of them.

Aries, represented by a ram and covering the period 21 March to April 19, is rated as the bravest of all the star signs. Stubborn and headstrong, they are also considered courageous in adversity, fearless and adventurous, with boundless energy - but accused of lacking patience and a tendency to be arrogant.

Did Kate have hyperemesis gravidarum this time around?

The Duchess of Cambridge was again forced into an early announcement of her pregnancy after suffering hyperemesis gravidarum, the severe morning sickness condition she suffered during her first two pregnancies.

Her sickness meant she missed taking George for his first day at school.

She was able to return to public duties a few weeks later - with her first choice of a blue outfit quickly balanced out by an appearance in pink.

When and where do we think the baby was conceived?

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As the baby's due in late April, that means it was probably conceived in July.

That would coincide with the Duke and Duchess visiting Poland and Germany.

And if Kate didn't already suspect she was pregnant, she would have known they were hoping to add to their family when she made a cheeky joke to husband William after being given a gift for newborns.

She joked: "We will just have to have more babies!"

At the time, many jumped on the bandwagon, speculating that a new little prince or princess could be on the way.

Other things going on around that time were the Chelsea Flower Show and Wimbledon.