It’s the pitter-patter of little feet the world has been waiting for since William and Kate tied the knot. And now speculation is mounting among long-time royal watchers that a pregnancy announcement is imminent. The evidence of a royal heir in the offing stacked up almost by the hour as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their way around South-East Asia last week.

In fact, the second Kate set foot in Singapore, onlookers noted her tummy-skimming dress by Jenny Packham, and the way she hovered her hands over her belly. “Kate is glowing and at a good guess there will be news soon,” said one onlooker. “It’s a natural instinct from a pregnant lady to touch her bump.” Some witnesses also pointed out that the slim royal was slightly puffy around the face – though others fobbed it off as jet lag.

But there was no denying each of her outfit choices was ideal to conceal a baby secret, with empire lines, A-lines and peplums the order of the day. The buzz rose to a dull roar at two official dinners. Despite the flowing alcohol, Kate left her glass untouched – instead toasting with water on both occasions. While Wills opted to sip red wine as he mingled, he too joined Kate in a water when it came time to clink glasses during an official photo op.As one eagle-eyed blogger noted, “William is keeping Catherine company in drinking water. That’s lovely!”

But the real kicker came when William, who let his guard down while speaking to some children in Singapore, confirmed he was looking forward to becoming a father. “Someone asked him how many children he would like to have,” says local teen Corine Ackermann. “He said he was thinking about having two.” As one British commentator explains, “I have a sneaking suspicion Wills has only come out and said this now because Kate is actually [pregnant]!”

Read more about William and Kate's tour in Singapore in this week's Woman’s Day on sale Monday September 17, 2012.