Kate's great wait begins

In days of yore it was called the royal confinement. Queens, princesses and duchesses disappeared from view a few weeks before the birth of their longed for heirs and went into seclusion in darkened rooms in palaces to wait for the arrival of a prince or princess. Now it's called maternity leave and it's more about getting a few weeks rest before the nursery expands. And today was the day that the Duchess of Cambridge clocked off the royal rota ahead of the birth of her second child.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge out and about in London on Kate's last public engagement before giving birth to their second child

(photo @KensingtonRoyal Twitter)

They began the day in Streatham with a visit to the Stephen Lawrence Centre, set  up in memory of the teenager who was murdered in 1993. Stephen Lawrence wanted to be an architect and this centre, established in 2008, helps young people achieve their dreams in a range of skills including architecture. The royal couple met Stephen's mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and some of the young people helped by the centre's work.

Duke and duchess of cambridge meet Baroness Doreen Lawrence. Last engagements before Royal birth pic.twitter.com/qKGt6K50su
— Sarah Campbell (@SarahCam3) March 27, 2015

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge then headed to Gypsy Hill for a visit to the Excel Project which helps young people in London to work towards brighter futures. Around 1,800 children are seen by the charity every week.

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Epix blowing the roof off the church with an amazing show @xlplondon pic.twitter.com/5tM2nNLySx
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 27, 2015

To end the day,  Kate and William headed off to a couple of community projects run by the Excel Project, or XLP. They spent time on a community bus and at a mobile recording studio where they met young people helped by the organisation. There were also presents for Prince George who got a T-shirt and a reminder that from now on he is going to have to share - his sibling got exactly the same gift.

Kate and William pose for a photo before the end of the duchess' engagements ahead of baby number two arriving

The duke made reference to the fact that it 'wasn't long now' before three become four while he told another wellwisher that he can't wait for the new baby to be born. And he was in the mood for baby talk, telling someone else that a second child would be a 'game-changer'.  And just to get everyone really thinking, the duke wore a pink tie. It might not have been so noticeable as the bright fuchsia coat worn by Kate but it was there in all its rosy glory nonetheless.  But perhaps the most obvious thing about William was the care he took of Kate as she heads towards the end of her pregnancy. With a careful hand on her shoulder whenever he could and lots of loving looks, this was a daddy to be in full flow. And at the end of a spring day, the couple headed home. The next time we see Kate will be outside St Mary's in Paddington with a baby in her arms. Good luck and good health to that duchess.

And see the best photos from Kate's last day out before baby number two by clicking the link here.