The second royal baby is just hours away from meeting the world.

Kensington Palace has confirmed that Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge  is on her way to St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, where she will give birth to the couple’s second child.

Prince Harry, who is in Australia, was among the first to be told that his nephew or niece is on the way.

How long will we have to wait for the baby?

St Mary’s Hospital is where the young royals welcomed their first child Prince George, on July 22

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2013.

Prince George arrived after around 11 hours but second babies tend to arrive more quickly and also tend to be heavier. The average for a second labour is five hours.

Assuming the baby is born today, they will share its birthday with David Beckham and Englebert Humperdinck

St Mary’s is the same hospital saw the birth of Princes William and Harry as well as Princess Anne’s children, Zara and Peter. Let’s just say there is a lot of royal DNA on those sheets.

Following tradition, the sex of the royal-baby-to-be remains unknown. But our bets lay firmly on a girl for the next royal sprog. This week, Prince Charles said that was his hope – so fingers crossed he had the inside line on that one.

Anne, Alice, Diana or Beryl?

Bookmakers have been taking bets on the new baby’s name.

If the baby is a girl, the punters like Alice (with odds recently shortening from to 4-1). Apparently a lot of money has been put on this name from the posher suburbs on London, so those folks might be onto something.

After Alice the next fancied moniker among punters is the Queen’s name Elizabeth at odds of 9-2 followed by Charlotte 11-2, Victoria 12-1, Alexandra 14-1, and Diana 16- 1 (we’ll admit to being most excited about that. If we were betting people, we’d be putting money on Diana).

Arthur is the most popular boys name. It is only 12-1 odds – because so many punters seem convinced that the baby will be a girl. James, Alexander, Philip and Henry are all reasonably popular choices, hovering around 20-1.

The latest news is that David is improving in the naming stakes – because it is David Beckham’s birthday. It’s now at 25-1.

Best responses from the internet so far…

We’re glad that the time has finally arrived – the world was becoming very impatient:

Even the Queen was doing a spot of internet shopping (one must pass the time somehow):

And if you’re interested in how the royal succession will play out, this image explains it perfectly (Baby 2 will be fourth in line to the throne)

By far, the most interesting thing is that we are only 7 steps away from Queen Beatrice or Queen Eugenie. And that’s pretty exciting…

Got some spare time?:  Quit your jobs. Kate Middleton is looking for a cleaner.

Good luck, Duchess Kate: we can’t wait to see pictures.

Here’s a Kate Middleton gallery to tide you over in the mean time:

The Royals.

The Duchess in Kuala Lumpur.

Kate Middleton on her wedding day.

A beautiful shot of Kate and Wills.

Kate Middleton in a peach Jenny Packham dress at a children's hospice.

Kate Middleton wearing a $30 ASOS wrap dress while shopping for nursery furniture in Chelsea, London.

Kate Middleton wearing a $76 polka dot Topshop dress.

The Duchess of Cambridge attends The Art Room Reception at the National Portrait Gallery.

A great shot of Kate and Wills.

Charles, Camilla and Kate at Queen Elizabeth II's annual summer garden party.

Kate Middleton in a MaxMara wrap dress

William and Kate dancing on the island of Tuvalu.

Kate Middleton in the Alexander McQueen gown everyone's talking about.

Looks like the scene of a movie. The princess in another Jenny Packham dress.

Wearing Singapore-based label Raoul.

Matching waves.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton

Kate and WIlliam attend a premiere of Disney film Nature Cats in London.

Kate Middleton.