Pregnant Kate Middleton displays her baby bump in London

Pregnant Kate Middleton displays her baby bump in London

The Duchess of Cambridge joked that her husband is 'in denial' about their third child yesterday after sharing an emotional embrace with her former midwife as she celebrated nursing worldwide.

Kate's lighthearted comment came as she visited a leading London hospital to launch the Nursing Now global campaign, aimed at raising the status and profile of nurses, and praised the health workers who 'look after us in our happiest and saddest times'.

Earlier she visited the London headquarters of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) – as she was named patron of the organisation – and gave her former midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, a hug.

Before launching the Nursing Now campaign Kate met Lauren Kedwell, 36, and Jamie Parsons, 33, from Upper Beeding, West Sussex, whose daughter is being treated on the Snow Leopard ward at St Thomas' Hospital where nurses, not doctors, take the lead in patient care.

Mr Parsons said: 'I said 'congratulations, best of luck with the third one' and she said 'William's in denial'.' 

His 10-month-old daughter Amara Kedwell-Parsons has never been home but has been treated in six hospitals for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by oxygen starvation.

Kate put the couple at ease and made silly noises at the infant as she sat in a chair.

Ms Kedwell said: 'She was 'going at my daughter,' while her partner added: 'She was just very understanding but also you could tell that she did have empathy and could see it was just a scenario that was challenging for us.'

The duchess spoke about her family connection with the health profession when she addressed nursing organisations and medical leaders from a range of countries including Norway, Uganda, Bahamas and Thailand, as she launched Nursing Now.

She said: 'This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide.'

Kate, who wore a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, praised nurses for their 'awe-inspiring' dedication and professionalism adding: 'I was surprised to learn that to keep pace with the rising global demand, the world will need an additional 9 million nurses by 2030.

'In simple terms, that's about 2,000 more nurses every day for the next 12 years. This shows that we must act now to support and develop nurses with the skills and talent to cope with the future global health needs.'

The duchess, who earlier was named patron of the campaign, added: 'Nursing Now is a call to raise the profile of nursing internationally and to help grow the profession further so it can play a key role in meeting real health challenges across the world.'   

As she left, Kate thanked RCOG president Lesley Regan and added: 'It was so great to see Jacqui as well.' 

Professor Regan also appeared to let slip that Kate would be giving birth to her third child at St. Mary's Hospital - as she did with George, four, and Charlotte, two - during a speech on Tuesday morning.

Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. 

Kate, wearing a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, met trainees and professionals during her visit to RCOG, which works to improve healthcare for women. 

It was announced today that Kate has become patron of RCOG and the Nursing Now campaign, a global initiative to raise the status and profile of nurses. 

She watched with interest as trainees demonstrated how they would perform keyhole surgery and stitch up skin following a caesarean and congratulated those nearing the end of the training.

As she was shown around, Kate paused to observe a painting of the Queen opening the building in 1960.

Presenting Kate with a certificate to mark her patronage, Professor Regan said: 'On behalf of everyone here present, I would like to extend our very best wishes for the birth of your third child.

'I'm confident that you will receive excellent care from the wonderful team at my own hospital, as indeed you received for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

'Thank you once again for visiting the college today, becoming our patron and for showing such passionate interest in our work.

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