Kate Middleton Pregnant, Palace Says; Kate Signaled as Much in July

Kate Middleton shields her abdomen from photographers, a pose she adopted all day, at a celebration today kicking off the Tour de France. (Photo by Scott Heppell – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Kate Middleton’s revealing body language and a loose fitting dress sparked new rumors about a possible pregnancy back in July and today (Sept. 8) Kensington Palace announced that Kate was indeed pregnant and would give birth next year.

Presuming that the palace waited until Kate was at least three months along and out of danger of a miscarriage, the timing would just about match up.

Kate and husband Prince William were celebrating the start of the Tour de France in West Tanfield, Yorkshire, England. Kate’s body language, caught in photos of the event, suggested that she might be pregnant, IM reported exclusively at the time.

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In one photo she walks gingerly with Prince William toward photographers and shields her stomach from view with her hands and clutch.

In a number of other poses Kate also keeps her hand, and or her clutch in front of abdomen, as if to prevent her baby bump from protruding.

It would not be unlike William and Kate to keep the pregnancy a secret until Kate was well enough along to rule out the possibility of a miscarriage.

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Rumors about the Duchess’s condition have surged and ebbed almost since Prince George was born on July 12 a year ago.

In April, speculation rose to a fever pitch when Prince William made a chatty aside during a tour of Australia that seemed to suggest Kate was preggers.

But apparently, the chatty prince was being taken a little too literally.

Kate quickly put the rumors to rest by downing a glass of pino gris. She didn’t drink while pregnant with George.