Kate Middleton To Host Gala Dinner Ahead Of Maternity Leave

Kate Middleton will show off her baby bump at a glamourous gala dinner after her final official engagement next week

Kate Middleton will show off her baby bump at a glittering gala dinner after her final solo engagement next week, it has been confirmed.

It's thought the Duchess of Cambridge will attend the special event after launching Princess Cruises' new ship, the Royal Princess, in Southampton.

WHAT WILL KATE MIDDLETON WEAR FOR HER FINAL ROYAL ENGAGEMENT?

According to Duchess of Cambridge Style Files, teachers Danuta Tomasz and Dave Flowitt have been invited to dine with Kate Middleton at the celebrations, which come ahead of the cruise liner's maiden voyage.

It's thought invitations to the pair, whose school parters with charity SkillForce, came out of the blue, after Prince William, who is patron of the charity, invited them to attend.

Ahead of the evening event, it's thought Kate Middleton will enjoy a brief tour of Princess Cruises' shiny new ship - which boasts a 27 bars and restaurants, a 280-seat entertainment area and a glass-bottomed walkway - before it sets sail on June 16.

'It is a great honour for Princess Cruises that Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge has accepted our invitation to become the Godmother to Royal Princess,' Princess Cruises’ president Alan Buckelew said.

'We are delighted that the Duchess will launch our new ship and can think of no better way to celebrate our company’s British heritage and our commitment to the country.'

It's thought Kate Middleton will begin an official period of maternity leave on June 13, exactly one month before the royal baby's due date.

'Kate has really enjoyed her job and wanted to work as close to the birth date as possible,' one source told the Huffington Post. 'She takes her royal role very seriously and is looking forward to taking up her duties when her maternity leave has finished,'

After signing off from royal duties, Kate Middleton and her baby bump are expected to travel to her family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire to prepare for the new arrival.

Reports suggest the Duchess could even choose to give birth at a hospital local to the Middleton family home, after it was revealed her family are in favour of the idea.

'Kate’s family want the baby to be born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital,' a family friend told the Telegraph.

'Their thinking is that she will be based at her parents’ house during the later stages of her pregnancy and they do not want her to have to travel miles to Paddington when she goes into labour.'

Kate's surgeon-gynaecologist Alan Farthing, who also looks after the Queen, will travel to whichever hospital the the Duke and Duchess finally choose.

Insiders say Kate Middleton will then spend at least the first six weeks after the birth of her first child away from the spotlight, at her parents' home, before returning to London.

The £4.85 million seven-bedroom Georgian manor, which the Middleton family purchased last year, comes with 18 acres of land, and 'fantastic views'.

Wow.

VIDEO: Kate Middleton's finest style moments…

What do you think Kate Middleton will dress her baby bump in for her final royal engagement? Let us know in the comments box below…

WHAT WILL KATE MIDDLETON WEAR FOR HER FINAL ROYAL ENGAGEMENT?

KATE MIDDLETON'S PREGNANCY STYLE PARADE

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