Grand plans in place for Britain's royal baby announcement

Fountains and key landmarks will be illuminated and the news of whether Prince William and wife Kate have a boy or girl will be broadcast on a giant screen above central London.

As the world's media waits anxiously to break the news around the globe, plans of the city's celebrations were revealed by 'The Sunday Times' today.

"To mark the arrival of Baby Cambridge, as the child will be called before being given a name, the Greater London Authority has ordered the fountains of Trafalgar Square to be lit in pink or blue, depending on the gender of the newborn.

The London Eye is also expected to be illuminated — this time in patriotic red, white and blue — while a 62-gun salute will be fired at the Tower of London," the newspaper said.

News of the baby's arrival will also be displayed on the screen at the top of the 600-feet BT Tower.

Suzi Williams, director group marketing and brand at BT, said: "Since the LED screen at the top was first installed in 2009 it has counted down from 1,000 days to the start of London 2012 (Olympics) and commemorated the royal wedding and the Queen's diamond jubilee."

The celebrations reflect the proclamation of previous royal births in the country.
In November 1948, the Trafalgar Square fountains were lit to mark the arrival of Prince Charles.

For the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges' first child, plans have been put in place for a traditional notice placed on an easel at the gates of Buckingham Palace.
In recent days, the duchess has been dividing her time between Kensington Palace and her parents' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire.

Prince William is on annual leave from his duties as a search and rescue helicopter pilot and his two-week paternity leave will begin when the baby is born.

Kensington Palace said: "The same as any expectant parents would be, they're now spending their time privately."

A due date for the birth has never been officially confirmed by the palace, only the month of July was given at the start of the year.

There has been wide speculation over the birth date since last weekend and the future King or Queen of England is expected any day now.

The third in line to the throne will be born at the private Lindo wing of St Mary's Hospital at Paddington in central London.