Royal Baby Mania Or Spare Heir Syndrome?

Will it be baby mania all over again, or will the "spare heir" syndrome kick in quickly?

The answer is a little bit of both.

Pregnant or otherwise, the Duchess of Cambridge never lacks the ability to draw a crowd or the media.

And, just like the first time around, "bump watch" - the analysis of every twist and turn of Kate's pregnancy, will be ubiquitous among Twitter users, bloggers, fans and press alike.

Whether Kate will cancel upcoming visits or not, such as her first solo tour to Malta, will be news.

What she wears will be news. Messages of congratulation from politicians to members of the public will be news.

And yes, the media will flood the street outside the Lindo Wing in Paddington when the time comes, waiting for news.

But the fact of the matter is, William and Kate's second child - the bookies are already having a field day offering odds on gender and name - is unlikely to be this country's future Monarch.

Prince Harry at St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium

Prince Harry may never be monarch - but has played a key role in royal life

Thank goodness for that, he or she might say, once they're beyond the gurgling stage, because the pressure will be off, just as it is with Prince Harry - often dubbed the "spare heir".

Constitutionally, William and Kate's second child is less significant as they will not be a direct heir. Prince George will take on the job, just as William will before Harry.

The next Cambridge baby will be fourth in line to the throne, pushing Harry into fifth.

And just like Harry, the child will likely be less constrained by the knowledge their monarchical destiny does not demand that they never put a foot wrong.

This pregnancy may garner marginally less interest than that of Prince George.

But should the Duke and Duchess' second born follow in Harry's footsteps, it will make plenty of news in the future, should the antics of its red-headed uncle be anything to go by.