The Duchess of Cambridge has pulled out of the wedding of her close friends Tom Van Straubenzee and Lady Melissa Percy amid fears she might go into labour with the royal baby during the celebrations.
The Sun reports that Kate has elected to stay in London rather than make the 300-mile drive to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland for Saturday's nuptials - which are being billed as the society wedding of the year.
Kate, 31, reportedly thinks it is 'too risky' to make the journey with just four weeks to go until her due date.
She and Prince William were to be the guests of honour at the wedding, and she is said to be 'gutted' that she is missing out.
William, who turns 31 today, will attend with his brother, Prince Harry, 28.
A source close to the Royal couple told the paper that Kate did not want to take any risks as she approaches the ninth month of her pregnancy.
"The birth may be a few weeks off, but there is still a very slim risk she could go into labour," the mole said. "Kate is gutted - as are Tom and Melissa - but she decided not to take any chances."