Royal baby watch: From Niagara Falls to St. Mary's Hospital

Royal baby watch: The birth of Prince William and Kate Middleton's baby is fast approaching. And the royal baby watch spans the globe, from St. Mary's Hospital to Niagara Falls and beyond. 

Royal baby excitement is reaching a peak this week, as the July 13 due date for Prince William and Kate Middleton’s baby nears.

ABC News quotes royal sources saying that the first Buckingham Palace announcement will be issued when Kate is admitted to the hospital, the second will be a formal birth announcement posted on an easel outside the palace.

Meanwhile the media has staked out positioins outside the building where the royal couples first child – and third in line to the British throne – will be born. The goal is to photograph and film the couple's departure from the hospital with their infant. (The hospital said in a statement July 2 that services to its patients will not be disrupted and that the buildings will remain accessible despite the anticipated crowds.)

Across the pond in North America, Niagara Falls will glow eeither pink or blue in celebration of the birth, courtesy of the US-Canadian Niagara Falls Illumination Board.  (The royal couple is reportedly prefer a surprise, and does not know the gender of the baby, yet.)

The Niagara Parks Commission's Facebook page encourages visitors to guess whether the baby will be a boy or a girl.

In Gainsevill Fla, some people in the central Florida city are already celebrating the imminent birth of an heir to the British throne. 

The Haile Village Bistro held a baby shower July 6 in honor of Kate and William’s baby. Ladies packed the British-owned restaurant and enjoyed tea, cucumber sandwiches, and scones. Many wore hats and fascinators.

"We have our fine china and our lace tablecloths," Jenny Nanson, a co-owner of the restaurant told The Gainesville Sun.

Joan Allen brought her two granddaughters, ages 4 and 8, to the Gainesville shower.

"We play tea party at home all the time with a little tea set, so I said they really ought to see the real tea party," Anthony said. "They're really excited about the royal birth. They keep asking about it."

A table full of gifts will be donated to Baby & Me, God's Greatest Ministry, a group that collects and distributes free baby items to single mothers.

In Britain royal baby souvenirs will be abundantly available. And the London Royal Mint announced July 4 that a special souvenir – “a lucky silver penny” – will be given to British babies born the same day as the royal baby.