The gifts will come pouring in soon enough. But the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s unborn child has already received one very special present indeed – a lullaby specially written for the baby by a respected British composer and recorded by a New Zealand soprano.

Paul Mealor, who wrote music for Prince William and Kate’s royal wedding, has penned a tune called “Sleep On” as a gift to the baby, due in July. It will appear on Hayley Westenra’s upcoming lullaby album Hushabye, set for release in the U.K. on June 17.

“After writing music for the royal wedding, it seemed natural to provide the musical accompaniment for the next stage of the royal couple’s journey together,” Mealor, 37, told the British press.

Westenra, 26, has dedicated the album to the baby and plans to send a copy to the royal couple in hopes it might help with sleepless nights.

“Paul and I got together to work on a song called ‘Sleep On’ in honor of William and Kate’s new arrival, as it’s a joyous occasion which we can all celebrate,” she said.

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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits Naomi House on April 29 in Winchester.

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Public Events > 2013 > Visits Naomi House (April 29)

The Duchess of Cambridge is spending her second wedding anniversary apart from her husband as she visits a children’s hospice in Hampshire.

The Duchess travelled to the Naomi House Hospice in Winchester to help publicise Children’s Hospice Week, part of a movement to which she has become increasingly dedicated since joining the Royal family on April 29, 2011.

For the Duke of Cambridge, the anniversary is just a normal day at work as it fell on one of the days he is on 24-hour call with his RAF Search and Rescue Squadron at RAF Valley in north Wales.

The Duchess, who is Patron of East Anglia Children’s Hospices, recorded her first ever video message to talk about the children’s hospice movement, which went live over the weekend.

In it she described children’s hospices as a “lifeline” for families living with the “unimaginable pain” of a child with a terminal illness.

The Duchess also chose hospices for her first public speech in the UK and her first public speech abroad.

Naomi House provides support to children with life-limiting conditions and their families living in seven counties in the south of England. Read the rest of this entry »

Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cambridge makes her first ever video message expressing support for Together for Short Lives’ Children’s Hospice Week campaign

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend the inauguration of Warner Bros. Studio Tour London on April 26, 2013 in Watford, England.

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Public Events > 2013 > The Inauguration Of Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden (April 26)