Call me, Baby

SINGAPORE - Any day now, Prince William and Kate Middleton will welcome their newborn into the royal family.

The birth of the baby, which will bear the title of His or Her Royal Highness Prince/Princess of Cambridge, will be announced on a sign placed on an easel behind the Buckingham Palace gates in a manner similar to the birth of Prince William.

But until then, the world is content with sharing baby facts and news - some true, some hilariously false - amid all the secrecy surrounding the highly-anticipated birth.

We highlight some nuggets, true or otherwise, that have got people buzzing.

THE NAME GAME

The English have gone on a betting frenzy on the baby's name, among many other things, an exercise made more difficult without knowledge of the baby's gender.

Popular guesses include "proper royal names" like Elizabeth, Victoria, James, Charlotte, George, Mary and Alexandra.

In fact, Alexandra drew in so many bets that UK bookmaker Coral has suspended betting on that name.

FACT OR FICTION?:

It's true that everyone's betting, but you can bet that the final name won't be anything outlandish. (North West, you hear?)

BABY WATCH

Two weeks. That's how long some of the photographers have been on stakeout duties for "exclusive" photographs of the heir or heiress to the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William.

The line stretches for about 20m in front of the entrance to the private Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital in central London, where Kate is expected to give birth.

The wait as well as lack of proper sleep and meals are driving the media - who have marked out their territory with gaffer tape and step ladders - up the wall.

FACT OR FICTION?:

Pop already, Kate! These photographers need rest. (Fact.)

After she left Anglesey, Wales (checked), where her husband is stationed as a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue pilot (checked), Kate was said to spend her time at her parent's home in Bucklebury (checked).

A few days ago, she is said to have moved back to their two-bedroom Nottingham Cottage (checked) home on the grounds of Kensington Palace in London to be closer to the hospital where she will give birth.

FACT OR FICTION:

Most likely true. Her every step is top secret but it's a clever move seeing as how she is due any day now.

CALMING TUNES

Forget calming classical music to help her relax when she finally goes into labour.

Middleton is seeking comfort in US singer Bruno Mars, Scottish DJ Calvin Harris and Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men instead.

She is also said to have gone "a bit stir-crazy" choosing her tunes leading up to the big day.

FACT OR FICTION?:

We wouldn't be surprised. After all, she picked English singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding to sing at her wedding reception in 2011. Likely a fact!

LABOUR PREP

Photos of the "royal couple" busying themselves in preparation for their child's arrival were splashed on the Daily Mail online on Thursday.

They "showed" the couple doing gym ball exercises, picking out baby outfits with the Queen, Middleton having anti-stretch mark cream rubbed on her round belly and getting a spray tan.

FACT OR FICTION?:

Sadly, untrue. The photo series was the result of the active imagination of celebrity photographer Alison Jackson, who photographed lookalikes of the royal couple instead of the real deal.

SWEET TREATS

Gifts are streaming in from all over the world for the royal baby. This includes a Finnish baby box from the Finnish government, packed to the brim with a mattress, grooming items, baby clothes in unisex colours, a picture book, bra pads and even condoms.

When empty, it serves as a cot.

Peta UK has sent a faux-sheepskin blanket alongside a gift basket that included vegan "caviar" and cruelty-free faux gras (an alternative to foie gras).

But the most lavish gift to date is a jewel-encrusted, 18-karat white gold charm bracelet that also serves as a diaper rash cream holder by British celebrity jeweller Theo Fennell.

But the royal family will never see the US$15,000 (S$19,000) present - it will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to charity.

FACT OR FICTION?:

Fact, fact, fact.

FAMOUS TIES

The baby will likely call some very popular celebrities family. According to family history site Findmypast.co.uk, the little one is a distant cousin of Blue Ivy Carter, daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z - 23rd cousin twice removed, to be precise.

The baby is also apparently related to a host of other Hollywood celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

FACT OR FICTION?:

Who knows? Ancestry is a hazy thing - I might be the baby's 100th cousin twice removed and not even know it.

GLOBETROTTING

The baby has big travel plans in spring next year, never mind that the young one might still be crawling.

According to magazine Us Weekly, a royal baby tour to Australia and New Zealand is slated for 2014.

FACT OR FICTION?:

Maybe - the late Princess Diana, together with Prince Charles, had also taken nine-month-old Prince William to Australia in 1983.