All eyes are on the forthcoming baby of Prince William and Kate Middleton even as the royal couple prefers not to know in advance through technology the gender of their baby. However, there are speculations the baby would be a girl based on an alleged slip on the part of the mother.

Whether the next royal baby would be a girl or boy, businesses in Britain are bracing for the birth in July by manufacturing souvenirs, toys, books, DVDs and whatever item could sell so long as it has the image of the infant and the parents.

Joshua Bamfield of the Centre for Retail Research in Nottingham estimates the royal birth will boost the British economy by $380 million through sales of souvenir items and the uncorking of 3 million bottles of champagne to celebrate the happy occasion.

The baby, due on July 13, will also likely boost sales of products the infant would use, particularly clothes and prams.

"The Kate effect has already taken the fashion world by storm with each of her choices flying off the shelves within moments of her leaving the house ... This trend will follow for the heir's baby ... rattles, first bike and so on," Mr Bamfield added.

Ahead of the much-anticipated royal birth, Kate attended her last public appearance as seen in the video below.

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