Victoria Beckham `worked hard to be ready for baby`

The 37-year-old fashion designer had to finish off her new collection, which is scheduled for a September release, in time for Harper's arrival to make sure that she could concentrate on being a mummy.

'She was so excited and really just ready for the baby,' a source told People magazine.

'She [had] been working really hard to get as much done as possible before Harper's arrival. She was unsure of how she would manage time and schedule after.

'She was saying, 'I just want her to get here and want to be holding her in my arms – not in my belly'.

'She had not been all that tired until the end, when it is just so hard to be active so pregnant.'

And husband David was keen to pitch in by organising their sons, Brooklyn, 12, Romeo, eight, and Cruz, six.

'David was, of course, over the moon about her arrival,' continued the insider. 'He was around town taking the boys to and from camp and to their soccer lessons – all the stuff he usually shared with Victoria.

'The boys, who are all so sweet and a really caring and very well-mannered bunch, are all old enough to really know what was about to happen.

'The kids seemed happy but they are such boys. [It] will be interesting to see how they take care of their little sister.'