When Kate Middleton goes into labor in July, photographers will undoubtedly be hot on her trail but any hoping to snap an unauthorized baby photo will be hanging around for a long time. Just like the Royal Palace released an official statement announcing Kate’s pregnancy, they’ll most likely release official royal baby photos in order to be one step ahead of the paparazzi.
Although no one at Buckingham Palace could be reached for comment, according to Jo Piazza, executive news director of Us Weekly and author of Celebrity, Inc: How Famous People Make Money, any promise of a royal photo won’t stop paparazzi from hounding Kate and Prince William from the moment they enter the hospital.
“I’d like to say that the paparazzi are more respectful of a royal baby than a celebrity baby, but frankly, that won’t be the case. The race to get the first picture of this child will be brutal because the money will be so high,” explains Jo Piazza, executive news director of Us Weekly and author of Celebrity, Inc: How Famous People Make Money. Piazza estimates that the photos will fetch upwards of $10,000,000, especially for an early, pre-authorized picture. “This is hands down the most interesting baby since Angelina and Brad had Vivienne and Knox in 2008.”
To ward off pesky photogs and retain control over image rights, Piazza says William and Kate will be extremely careful about who they spend time with during the first few weeks after the birth, even going so far as to make their friends, acquaintances, and hospital staff sign non-disclosure agreements. Security measures at the hospital will be incredibly high, especially due to the incident last December when prank callers were given private information about Kate’s health while she was hospitalized for morning sickness.
Right now, there has been no official announcement as to where Kate will give birth. According to The Telegraph, she may have her baby at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, London, where Prince William was born. According to others, she’ll head to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading, close to her parents.
Wherever she goes, paparazzi will be camped out to snap the royal offspring. Unless, that is, Kate takes a page from Angelina Jolie’s playbook and heads to a remote region of Africa to give birth.