Royal baby sparks tourism boom

Royal well wishers wait outside the Lindo Wing of St Marys Hospital ahead of the Royal birth. Photo / Getty

Britain's royal palaces are enjoying a tourism surge from visitors anticipating the birth of the royal baby.

The second child of Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William is due to be born any day now at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London.

The hospital has seen a steady stream of visits from royal fans over the past week, many of them carrying the British flag, the Union Jack, or wearing clothes decorated with the flag.

Another top attraction is Kate and William's home at London's Kensington Palace, billed by online ticket seller AttractionTix.co.uk as the "official home of England's future king, Prince George," and his new brother or sister.

An exterior view of Kensington Palace featuring the refurbished statue of Queen Victoria, which was designed by her daughter Princess Louise. Photo / Getty

Visitor numbers have risen by about 36 per cent at Windsor Castle, the Tower of London and other royal attractions since the start of April, AttractionTix spokesman Simon Applebaum told the Sunday Express.

"We suspected the birth would give the nation another excuse to show their affection for the royal family and the attractions associated with them," Applebaum told the newspaper.

Bookmaker William Hill expects the baby to be born between Monday and April 26.

It gives Alice the shortest odds among possible names, followed by Elizabeth and Charlotte, despite the royal family giving no confirmation that Kate and William know their baby's sex.

An enclosure for journalists was erected outside the hospital last week, as royal officials said they wanted to avoid the "media chaos" surrounding July 2013 birth of George, who is third in line to succeed Queen Elizabeth, his great-grandmother.

- DPA