Kate Middleton Baby Bump, Due Date: Pregnant Duchess Starts Maternity Leave June 13, One Month Before Reported Royal Delivery
The Duchess of Cambridge has decided to continue her charitable works as close to the birth of her first child and the future heir to the throne as possible. Prince William's wife will reportedly cease her royal duties after her June 13, 2013, engagement where she is to christen a new cruise ship. Although one engagement that happens to fall right around her due date is not one for Kate to miss: the Queen's Coronation Festival.
From July 12 to the 14, a celebration will take place at Buckingham Palace honoring Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year since her Coronation. Though technically the anniversary was yesterday, the festival will take place in mid-July, having the Duchess' due date fall right in the middle of the royal party.
Despite this being a relatively risky time to be away from a hospital, Kate and William are planning on attending the festival. The Duchess of Cambridge will be in full bloom, quite literally, for this celebration.
But her "last official solo engagement" is said to be the christening of the cruise ship named after her, The Duchess. According to a source, "Kate has really enjoyed her job and wanted to work as close to the birth date as possible."
"She takes her royal role very seriously and is looking forward to taking up her duties when her maternity leave has finished," the source added.
The 31-year-old mother-to-be experienced illness and subsequent hospitalization early on in her pregnancy so the allotted time off might be in conjunction with the concern of how she will handle the end of the pregnancy. Also, her taking a leave of absence from her royal duties starting June 13 might be a hint as to the actual scheduled due date that the palace has kept quiet about. Mostly all reports about Kate's pregnancy have been hearsay so perhaps this maternity leave could be the first real hint as to when we get to see the new royal baby!