Royal style & gossip: don't be fooled by the rocks that they've got, they're still Katie/Leti/Maxi from the block

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Link to previous thread

I've managed to find the three hospitals on google maps - which is quite an achievement for me!

I guess security and privacy will be an issue in an NHS hospital, though. Imagine having to take advice from royal protection officers in deciding where to give birth.

I've got "The Royal Baby Book" by Alison James. I don't know how good that is as a resource on recent RF births. It says that the Queen had all four babies by c-section. That wouldn't surprise me because back then the standard c-section incision was vertical rather than horizontal, and that would increase the risk of rupture during a VBAC.

Wasn't there reports saying it was confirmed that she was going to Croydon?

Ha Ha! I wouldn't send my worst enemy there with a splinter! It wasn't called The Mayday Mayday! Mayday! for nothing

The Crown showed her having a "twilight birth" for Andrew and a normal vaginal birth for Edward with the DoE by her side. I know it's fiction of course, but the story about Edward's comes from Ingrid Seward, who's one of the more reliable royal biographers. Not sure where the Andrew story comes from, maybe Peter Morgan!

Incidentally one of the most famous twilight births was one of Queen Victoria's children. Victoria loved sex but hated pregnancy and birth so was happy to take chloroform!

Ok, been doing a bit of digging.
My money is on Meghan giving birth at the Kensington Wing of the Chelsea & Westminster hospital dm link.

Her new bf, Amal Clooney gave birth there, as did Cheryl Tweedy Cole etc. So they are used to thé the sleb circus / need for privacy.
The rooms looks gorgeous

And most importantly Guy Thorpe Beeston. The royal obstetrician is a consultant there.

Watch this be a dm story tomorrow!

Kensington Wing, Chelsea and Westminster hospital

Ohh that does look promising only 8 mins further away than frimley park according to google maps! You may have cracked it curly

Does anyone remember because I can't was it announced where Kate was going to give birth to George’s or did people figure it out?

I’ve met the Royal Obstetrician a few times at parties, luckily before I knew he was so I didn’t have to stop myself asking inappropriate questions.

I think it’s a bit further to Frimley Park...
However it’s 37 minutes from Windsor; M4 straight into London.
Traffic on the Fulham road is hideous.

There is a heliport not far away in Wandsworth.
SW London is my old stomping ground and one of my friends gave birth at C&W. Not privately though

@its wine time. I just realised you meant Frimley Park was only 8 minutes closer in the opposite direction.

Yes sorry I meant frimley park is closer to Frogmore but in the opposite direction as you say but there isn't much in it!

Has Doria arrived in the U.K. yet? Surely that will be the sign it's nearly time?

I think Doria can quite easily arrive under the radar.
MEghan would be best not inviting Jessica M, because she will probably tweet herself in the airport.
I bet Doria is there in the birthing suite helping with yoga breathing etc.

Those rooms do look nice. I remember seeing photos of the rooms at the Lindo Wing and thinking they didn't look much better than the room I had when I gave birth! But I'm sure they would've done one up for Kate

There was a tv series about the Portland a while ago and one royal woman (Arab, not British IIRC) demanded an entire FLOOR be refurbished for her!

Don't give the mail ideas or tomorrow's story will be Meghan refuse to give birth unless wing is refurbished for her- only half joking!

Re that DM article on The Queen allegedly banning Meghan from using/borrowing jewellery from the Royal Collection.
Well the simple truth (anathema to the DM) is that HM & Meghan have been advised that Meghan (as a US citizen) could possibly be taxed by the IRS by using 'business property' (that being the Royal Collection) when 'on business' (official Duchess of Sussex engagements)
Therefore it makes sense not to use the Royal Collection.
Tax affairs for overseas US citizens can be an absolute nightmare!

As Meghan is still a US citizen will that mean that Baby Sussex will automatically get dual nationally even though he/she will be born in the UK?

I didn't know that about US tax laws that's an interesting point of view.

They will have to find a work around though as while maybe they can keep it so that Meghan doesn't need to use the royal collection while the queen is around. Once Charles takes the throne I can't see that being an option. With only 2 children there are going to be times when Meghan attends state events. So I'm guessing they either gift her some pieces, then they are personal items not business items, but the leave the collection and get passed down the Sussex line. Or they commission something just for Meghan, which will not get good press in the current climate. Or (most likely I think) they take the risk and pay the tax if the IRS decide to pursue Meghan. Which I imagine would be seen as a petty move on the part of the IRS?

As for baby Sussex yes as I understand it it will have dual nationality in theory but I don't know the American system would they not have to apply for it?

It's my understanding that the baby will have US citizenship at birth, but in order to have proper documentation, Meghan would need to report the birth to us authorities, likely at the US embassy.

I am a little surprised that she hasn't renounced her American citizenship.

The Kensington Wing is designed to be a comprehensive maternity unit with private consultation rooms for your antenatal appointments, a medical day assessment unit, three labour rooms, a water-birthing suite, a nursery, 14 postnatal en-suite bedrooms and a luxury postnatal suite.

What happens if another woman is using the luxury suite or the water-birthing suite at the exact wrong time?

What happens if another woman is using the luxury suite or the water-birthing suite at the exact wrong time?

I guess that could happen anywhere though private or nhs. All delivery rooms could be in use when a mum goes into labour wherever you book. Especially the water birthing rooms which tend to be less in number.

I'm sure all maternity hospitals have plans for this not sure what they are maybe the 14 post natal rooms can be turned into labour suites if needed? The important thing is the staff more than the rooms. Most rooms can be repurposed with the right monitors and equipment and I'm sure Meghan like Kate and all other royal mums of the past have a dedicated team all ready?

For comparison my nhs local hospital has 7 birthing rooms in a midwife lead unit the linked consultant unit (not the same site but the same trust) has 9 rooms, which if you think about how many women give birth on the nhs compared to private seems like the Kensington wing it isn't a unreasonable number to me. I can't find how many rooms the Portland or the Lindo Wing have for comparison.

So Harry & Meghan had a Babymoon it apparently cost £33k which just seems ridiculous. Also to put it in context the #sussexsquad raised that amount for their charities

They live in a palace anyway, and have staff. For that kind of money I’d want to be somewhere hot, with a beach. It’s another world.

Letizia rewearing her Zara skirt

Looking at the front page of the Telegraph with the photo of Charles and his sons at the Natural History Museum I'm struck by the likeness of William to Freddie Windsor ( Prince Michael of Kent's son) once again.
I also thought wouldn't Diana be proud of those two lovely sons.