Kate Middleton Escapes To Her Parents' Berkshire Home

As temperatures soared in the city over the weekend, the heavily-pregnant Duchess of Cambrige is said to have left Kensington Palace for Bucklebury

Kate Middleton spent the weekend chilling out at her parents' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, according to reports.

While Prince William was fulfilling his royal duties by playing polo at a charity tournament in Gloucestershire, the heavily-pregnant Duchess of Cambridge is said to have escaped the city's soaring temperatures at Kensington Palace, in favour of the countryside.

An insider told Us Weekly: 'It was just too warm in Nott Cott. She decided to spend the weekend with mum and dad. Much more comfortable.'

Kate Middleton and her baby bump have been staying in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace so that the Duchess is close enough to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington when she goes into labour. Prince William, meanwhile, has until now remained at the pair's home in Anglesey, so he can continue working for the RAF right up until the royal birth. The Queen has lent him a helicopter which has been on standby for when William receives that all-important call that Kate has gone into labour.

Police protection officers were spotted outside the Middleton family home at the weekend, overseeing the Duchess of Cambridge's stay.

It was widely reported that 13 July was Kate Middleton's baby due date, but the royal had only ever told the press she was expecting her newborn 'mid-July'.

BBC cameraman Tony Dolce told us: 'When we hear that the Duchess of Cambridge has left for the hospital, a journalist will be sent over to St Mary's in Paddington to present in front of the camera outside and will go live straightaway.'

The Duchess will enter the hospital via a private back entrance, and the first we'll know of the baby's sex and weight is when Tony and his crew zoom in on the famous easel outside Buckingham Palace.

We're so excited. Good luck, Duchess!

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