Kate Middleton effortlessly quashed rumours that she is having a girl today when she told soldiers who she was meeting that while she would like a son,  her husband William is hoping their first born is a girl.

Her remarks will go down well in the palace where many are hopeful the new royal child will be male, despite a recent change in the law to enable a daughter to one day inherit the crown.

Kate’s revealing comments came at the St Patrick’s Day Parade this morning at the Aldershot military base in England, home to the Irish Guards. William is a Colonel in the Regiment.

Just two weeks ago, speculation was rampant that Kate was having a girl after Kate apparently referred to her ‘d” when talking to well-wishers.

However the palace maintained that Kate did not know the sex of her child, and video footage shot on a phone appeared to undermine the suggestion.

Kate, who is almost six months pregnant, spoke about her pregnancy to the soldiers waiting to meet her, saying that she is “excited” about the baby, which is due in July, and is prepared for the sleepless nights.

Showing that she is hardly adding any baby weight to speak of, Kate wore the same green Emilia Wickstead coat dress that she wore to the event last year, however there was a hitch  when she got one of her heels stuck in a grating.

After the event the young royals chatted to soldiers.

According to the Telegraph, Guardsman Lee Wheeler, 29 said he spoke to her about the baby.

“I asked her, 'Do you know if it’s a girl or boy?’, and she said, 'Not yet’. She said, 'I’d like to have a boy and William would like a girl.’

“I asked her if she had any names yet, and she said no.”