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Royal baby fever: The truth about the fans camped at St Mary's

We chat to the royal baby fans camped outside the Lindo Wing about what really motivates their dedication.

Kathy Martin and Terry Hutt waiting outside the hospital
Kathy Martin and Terry Hutt waiting outside the hospital

They call themselves the KP fans – the Kensington Palace fans – and have been attending royal events together ever since they first met outside the palace, waiting for the start of Princess Diana’s memorial in 1997.

Every year since, they've gathered on Diana’s birthday and on the anniversary of her death. And for the past 21 days, they’ve been camped outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge is expected to give birth to Diana’s second grandchild any day now.

Maria and Amy, who don’t want to give a last name, are a mother and daughter sharing a two-man tent on the pavement.

“It was too cold last night,” she tells us. “We had to go into the waiting room to warm up.”

From left: Amy, John Loughrey, and Amy's mum, Maria
From left: Amy, John Loughrey, and Amy's mum, Maria

While killing time, the KP fans have had time to analyse and debate this pregnancy and they’re sure it’s a girl. “She carrying quite low, so we’re convinced of it,” says Kathy Martin, 53, their unofficial spokeswoman this morning.

“If it’s a girl, we really hope they honour Diana with the name. Prince William has said he will – and two thumbs up for that.”

[Live blog: Yahoo's on the ground for the birth of Kate Middleton's second child]

Had the baby arrived today, it would have shared a birthday with Queen Elizabeth II – a fact that doesn’t escape the KP fans. “I sent her a birthday card yesterday,” says Terry Hutt, 80. He’s the father-figure of the group. “I sent one with butterflies, because I know she likes them,” he adds.

A close up of the hat worn by royal fan John Loughrey as he waits outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
A close up of the hat worn by royal fan John Loughrey as he waits outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital in London. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

“She’s mellowing as she gets older,” he tells us, showing off a press clipping of the Queen laughing while accepting flowers from him. “I’m mellowing as well. I’ve got this lot to look after.”

They’re a tight group, bonded by their grief and hardened to criticism from the public who don’t understand their dedication to the royals.

Their jester and poster boy, 60-year-old John Loughrey, hogs much of the limelight with his antics and knows what the public is thinking. “Ask me if we’re normal,” he demands. We oblige.

“No! We’re not normal. We're twitty! We’re bonkers and twitty. We’re eccentrics."

And how does he think the royal family feels about all that dedication?

“I think they’re twitty, twitty, twitty about it.”