Duchess of Cambridge reveals baby boy hopes

Published on 18/03/2013 01:29

THE Duchess of Cambridge, formally known as Kate Middleton, says she doesn’t know the sex of her first child - but she hopes it’s a boy.

Her husband Prince William, however, would prefer a girl.

The former Kate Middleton, who is five months pregnant, made the revelation to a soldier Sunday at a St. Patrick’s Day ceremony honoring the Irish Guards.

Guardsman Lee Wheeler said the duchess told him: “I’d like to have a boy and William would like a girl.”

The duchess wore a green dress coat and a shamrock lapel pin as she presented sprigs of shamrock to soldiers in the annual ceremony at a barracks in Aldershot, southern England.

She suffered a minor mishap when one of her high heels became briefly stuck in a drainage grille.

St Patrick’s Day

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge braved showers to attend a St Patrick’s Day parade at a military barracks today.

Wearing the same green Emilia Wickstead dress coat she wore to the event last year, Kate smiled broadly as she greeted soldiers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at Mons Barracks in Aldershot, Hampshire.

Under grey skies, the pregnant Duchess took her position next to the Duke on a podium which offered them cover from the rain.

The royals looked on as the first bars of the National Anthem were played out.

William, who wore ceremonial dress, was attending the parade as Colonel of the Regiment.

He watched as the Duchess presented traditional sprigs of shamrock to the officers and guardsmen, including one to himself.

The presentation of shamrocks by a senior female member of the royal family is a century-old tradition which was started by Queen Alexandra, the wife of Edward VII, in 1901.

The role was famously carried out by the Queen Mother.

Kate, who wore a black hat with her hair up, finished off her outfit with black tights and heels.