Kate Middleton has reportedly headed to the Middletons' family home in Berkshire to spend the final days of her pregnancy with her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.As royal watchers are on the edge of their seats waiting for news of William and Kate's royal baby and photographers are camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital in Paddington; it has been reported that Kate is actually in Berkshire at her family's £4.85million Georgian home.The Sunday Express has said that police cars are parked outside the Middletons' home, ready to take Kate, 31, the 50 mile journey to London when the time comes.
Despite speculation that Kate's royal baby was due on 13 July, Prince William went ahead with his plans to play in a charity polo match suggesting there was still time before the baby is expected to be born.
The Duke of Cambridge was said to be torn between attending the match or not, which raises thousands of pounds for charities the young royal supports, but in the end he decided to play, according to an insider source.
The Middleton family themselves fuelled suggestions that the baby's arrival was not imminent when they joined the British royals for the Queen's Coronation Festival on Thursday.
The attendance of the Middletons suggested that Kate's due date is not as close as originally thought and Kate herself was reportedly keen to attend the event, before eventually deciding against it.
The Middleton family looked happy and relaxed and were spotted laughing with fellow guests in the royal box. They also exchanged a friendly greeting with Zara Phillips, who made her first public appearance since announcing she is also pregnant.Olympic champion Zara, who wore a floral shift dress, was spotted with her hand resting tenderly on her stomach.In April it was suggested that Kate was planning to break with royal tradition and take her newborn baby from London to the Middleton's family home. Kate, who was six months pregnant at the time, was said to have told her friends that she wanted to move home to be with her parents, Carole and Michael, as she adjusts to life as a new mum.
"Kate just feels safest and most secure when she's with her family," said a source.
Situated in the countryside, the secluded house would provide the royal couple and their newborn with more privacy and having Carole, who also has daughter Pippa Middleton and son James Middleton, around could provide Kate with invaluable support.
The Duchess is very close to Carole and Michael and broke with royal tradition late last year when she and Prince William chose to spend Christmas at the Middletons' home, rather than at the Queen's Sandringham Estate.