Brits excitedly await birth of royal baby

LONDON -- Royal fans are ready to welcome Prince William and Kate's second child.

PHOTOS: Princess Kate and Prince William through the years

The barricades are out, the "no parking" signs are up and the royal watchers have started to gather.

Just like the royal birth in 2013, Duchess Kate and Prince William are disclosing virtually nothing about the baby -- including the due date and gender.

Kate, who announced her pregnancy back in early September, is expected to give birth before the end of the month. Royal watchers thought the baby might share a birthday with Queen Elizabeth II, who celebrated her 89th birthday on April 21, but that chance has passed. The baby's birthday could still coincide with William and Kate's fourth wedding anniversary on April 29.

But the big question is will this royal baby be a boy or a girl?

In her last public appearance, Kate wore pink, fueling speculation that little Prince George will have a sister.

There's also much speculation about a potential baby name.

Most Brits are betting on the name Alice. In fact, some bookies are offering 2-to-1 odds that the royal baby will be named Alice. Odds-makers also have Elizabeth and Charlotte as potential names for girls, and James and Arthur as the best bets for a baby boy.

At St. Mary's Hospital in London, the people waiting outside are just hoping for a healthy baby. For those of us who won't be staking out the hospital grounds, Twitter will likely be where we'll first hear of the birth -- that's how George's arrival was announced in 2013 and it's expected royal officials will do the same this time around.