So THIS is how Beyoncé hid her baby bump

Sorry, our newsletter may have redirected you here instead of to the news that Tara Palmer Tomkinson has passed away. Please see below for a link to that story.

Sorry, our newsletter may have redirected you here instead of to the news that Tara Palmer Tomkinson has passed away. Please click here if that is the story you are looking for. 

Words – Dave Quinn

Beyoncé broke the Internet on Wednesday when she announced in a record-breaking Instagram post that she and husband Jay Z are expecting twins. But while the Beyhive were shocked by the news, the 35-year-old singer had been working hard to keep her growing baby bump under wraps.

According to a source, Beyoncé — known to drop a surprise or two — had been disguising her baby belly with a series of dark outfits and loose-fitting dresses.

She wore all black on Dec. 11 when she and daughter Blue Ivy hung backstage with Mariah Carey after her Christmas show at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. (Carey’s 5-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan, were there too, as was a friend).

‘She looked amazing,’ a source tells PEOPLE. 'There were hints of a baby bump, but no one mentioned anything.’

Eight days earlier, on Dec. 3, Jay Z celebrated his 47th birthday with a private dinner at Republique restaurant in Los Angeles. There, Beyoncé’s belly was once again incognito.

‘Beyoncé wore a flowy dress and hid her baby bump,’ the source said.

There were signs of a bump on Dec. 17 too, in a holiday video Bey posted to Instagram.

She could have been giving hints of her pregnancy throughout the celebration as well, especially in one moment where she held up two fingers — a gesture originally interpreted to be just a peace sign.

From the editors of PEOPLE and HelloGiggles