The Duchess of Cambridge is said to have returned to the Middleton's Berkshire home to spend the final days of her pregnancy with her family.
Now one day past her due date, Kate Middleton is reported to have travelled to her parent's £4.85million mansion on Friday to enjoy some home comforts before becoming a mother.
The last-minute move would mean the Duchess would face a 50 mile drive to her labour suite in Queen Mary's hospital in Paddington, London.
At the eleventh hour: A heavily pregnant Kate Middleton is believed to have moved to her parent's home, escaping the spotlight in the last few days of her pregnancy
Country retreat: Carole and Michael Middleton's mansion in Berkshire is 50 miles from Kate's delivery suite in Paddington, London
Speculation that the Royal baby would be overdue reached fever pitch last week when Prince William announced he will play in two charity polo matches this weekend.
The news comes as the nation waits on tenterhooks for news of the Royal baby, which was officially due yesterday.
Police cars were reportedly seen outside Carole and Michael Middleton's home and are said to be on hand to escort the heavily pregnant Duchess to hospital when she goes into labour, according to the Sunday Express.
A royal source told the newspaper: 'Being back at home is the one place where Kate can truly relax.
'She knows her mum will take good care of her and Williamk can also rest assured that she's in safe hands.'
The last-minute move takes Kate more than an hour's drive away from St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where she plans to give birth.
Kate's retreat to the countryside is said to confirm rumours that she does not expect the baby to arrive this weekend.
Close: A royal insider said the Duchess feels safe at her family home and wants to relax there before becoming a mother. She intends to spend six weeks living with her parent's (right) after her baby is born
William’s decision suggested that he is now more confident that his first-born is not about to make an appearance this weekend.
Family-oriented Kate has bucked royal tradition in the past, in favour of spending time with her family.
Her parents recently bought a Georgian manor in rural Berkshire with plenty of space for their first grandchild to run around.
Kate and her husband famously chose to spend Christmas Day at her parents’ home instead of the Queen's Sandringham estate.
Pregnant pause: Ladders at the ready for the press outside the London hospital where Kate will give birth
Far from the maddening crowd: The Duchess is said to want to escape the anticipation of her impending labour. The Lindo wing at Queen Mary's hospital (pictured) is over an hour's drive from the Middleton family home
Early in her pregnancy, the Duchess even considered giving birth to the future monarch as a hospital near her parents' home, but decided against it.
She will spend the first six weeks after leaving hospital at her parent's home and will not employ a maternity nurse.
Sources have confirmed that William and Kate’s plans to move into a new apartment in Kensington Palace in time for the birth have hit a huge stumbling block.
This follows the discovery of asbestos – which has to be cleared before the couple themselves, let alone a new-born child, can set foot inside.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362818/Royal-baby-Has-Duchess-Cambridge-returned-familys-Berkshire-home.html#ixzz2Z2VeuhXr
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