Royal baby is a girl: Celebrities bets as Kate Middleton goes into labor

Joan Collins, Snooki and Spice Girls’ Mel B led the hordes of celebrities tweeting ahead of the royal baby’s arrival on Monday morning.

Upon the news that Kate Middleton had gone into labor at London’s St Mary’s hospital, stars were quick to take to Twitter to express their excitement over the impending arrival.

Taking a guess as to the baby’s gender, veteran actress Joan Collins wrote: “I bet it’s a girl!”

Mel B was less specific with her tweet, writing: “Whoop whoop the royal baby is coming.”

In fact, within minutes of news breaking that Kate Middleton had gone into labor, Twitter went into meltdown, with more than 200 tweets containing the words  “Kate” and “Labor” being sent every minute.

CNN host Piers Morgan admitted the late Princess Diana would be bursting with pride at the imminent birth, writing: “She’d have loved it, very sad.”

The British presenter also offered a prediction on the child’s sex: “A boy – 100%.”

Former Labour politician John Prescott added: “Great to hear the Duchess of Cambridge has gone into labour. Is she an affiliated member?  #boomtish # royalbaby.”

Elsewhere former S Club 7 star Rachel Stevens added: “Baby HRH on the way, how exciting!”

While the majority of tweets wished Kate Middleton all the best, mother-of-two Lily Cooper couldn’t resist a light-hearted joke with the tweet: “The Duchess has shed half her baby weight.”

Jersey Shore star Snooki offered words of encouragement: “Push girl, pushhhhhh! #KateMiddleton #RoyalBaby #excited.”

Newly engaged Kelly Osbourne also tweeted from her home in Los Angeles: “It’s all so exciting The Royal Baby is on the way!”

Dame Helen Mirren – who has played her Royal Highness the Queen on stage and screen – says it would be “very interesting” if William and Kate named their first child Diana.

“I wonder if they’ll go there. That would be interesting, wouldn’t it? That would be very interesting,” she said, adding: “Her second name will be Elizabeth without a doubt.”

However, Helen Mirren admitted that other options would work just as well – amongst them Victoria, Charlotte and Caroline – after Kate Middleton’s mother, Carole.

“It would be nice to have one of those ancient Anglo-Saxon names,” she said.

Helen Mirren also admitted that Kate Middleton must feel awkward knowing the eyes of the world are trained on her while she prepares for the imminent birth.

“That’s weird isn’t it, everyone knowing you’re in labor,” she said.

“That must be so uncomfortable.”

Helen Mirren added that it would be great if they had a girl because “we need more Queen’s in our life”.