Prince Harry has cancelled the first day of his visit to the Netherlands next week – prompting expectations that the announcement of the royal baby is imminent.
The Duke of Sussex was set to to visit Amsterdam and The Hague on 8 and 9 May but will stay in England until at least Wednesday due to “logistical challenges” cited around arrangements for the trip.
His wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is expected to give birth to the couple’s baby any day now.
A spokesman for the Sussexes said: “Due to the logistical planning for the travelling press to cover visits and engagements by The Royal Family, we have taken the decision to postpone The Duke of Sussex’s scheduled visit to Amsterdam on Wednesday 8th May 2019.
The Duke is currently still scheduled to travel to The Hague on Thursday 9 May to launch the 2020 Invictus Games, the spokeperson confirmed.
Excitement around the announcement has reached fever pitch as royal watchers speculate that the Duchess may already have given birth – her due date was thought to be around the end of April or the beginning of May.
[Read More: When Is The Royal Baby Due? Everything We Know So Far]
Cousins of the royal baby-to-be both celebrated birthdays in the past fortnight, with pictures of Prince Louis and of Princess Charlotte released by Kensington Palace to mark their first and fourth birthdays respectively.
Meghan Markle’s mother Doria Ragland is said to have flown into be with her daughter. Rumours have circulated that Meghan will give birth at the Mulberry Birth Centre at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, near the Sussexes new base of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor – or even have a home birth.
“Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private”, Buckingham Palace recently said. “The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”
[Read More: The Royal Tradition Of Births – And Meghan and Harry’s Plan]
Bookmakers are still taking bets on the royal baby name – with Arthur, Alice, Diana, James and Arthur all featuring highly in the lists, as well as some more unlikely choices including Rodney.