Royal baby: Duchess could be up to four days overdue and may be induced

The latest royal baby may have to be induced after it emerged it could be as many as four days late already.

Government sources have told the Daily Telegraph they were briefed for a due date of Thursday this week for the Duchess of Cambridge to give birth to her and Prince William's second child.

It had been reported widely before that the due date was Saturday.

If the claims are correct, then doctors at Lindo Wing, the private maternity ward at St Mary’s Hospital, in Paddington, where she will go once in labour, could already have discussed the possibility of an induced birth this week

An inducement could take up to two weeks to happen, but would likely be sooner.

Kate remains in Kensington Palace waiting to be whisked to the hospital once labour begins.

Prince George reportedly arrived three days late when he was born two years ago.

Only about three per cent of babies are born on time, with two thirds late, while two thirds of second babies are early.

Pat O’Brien, a consultant obstetrician and spokesman for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said inducing labour was a safe procedure offered to mothers who are anxious, fed up or uncomfortable after passing the due date.

He said: “It’s down to the individual consultant as to when it’s appropriate to induce labour.

"But because it’s such a safe procedure, particularly with women who have given birth before, they tend to be pretty relaxed about inducing any time after the due date if the mother is getting fed up."

The biggest bet on the royal baby so far has been placed - £10,000 that it's a girl.

A Manchester punter in his late 30s put the bet on with Ladbrokes with odds of 8/15, that will see him net £15,000 if a princess is born.Bookies now favour the Duke and Duchess to be celebrating their wedding anniversary with their new addition on Wednesday 29 April, with odds on that date at 4/1.