‘Why aren’t they using the NHS?!’ Row as Mummy Pig welcomes Peppa Pig’s little sister Evie in same private hospital where Kate Middleton gave birth
professorkamrankhan@gmail.com 
Peppa Pig fans have jokingly questioned the modest family’s decision to welcome their new piglet at the same private hospital where the Princess of Wales gave birth over using the NHS.
The animated show, which has told the story of Peppa, Daddy Pig, Mummy Pig, and her little brother George for more than two decades, sent fans wild when they announced the pregnancy in February.
And the hysteria has continued this week after the safe arrival of little Evie was announced on Tuesday.
Named after Mummy Pig’s aunt Evie, the piglet was delivered at the Lindo Wing in London – the same location where Kate Middleton gave birth to all three of her children.
Prices at the the exclusive maternity ward at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington start at £5,900 for just one night, rising up to £7,500 for deluxe packages.
The decision for Peppa Pig’s family to go private has sparked outrage on social media, with many claiming the popular pig family should have used the NHS rather than splashing the cash at a fancy hospital used by the royals.
One user wrote: ‘Right I am absolutely fuming. They should have went to the NHS not go private. The Peppa family were meant to be middle class, will never be watching again.’
A second fumed: ‘They only live in a 2-bed house? How have they got the funds for this…’
Evie was born at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington – where the Princess of Wales gave birth to her three children. Pictured: Mummy and Daddy Pig with Evie outside the hospital
The birth was announced with a royal-inspired twist on the classic royal birth announcement, complete with a town crier, a scroll-style proclamation
Peppa Pig fans have questioned why the family opted for private care over using the NHS
And a third quipped: ‘She’s got enough money to go private but can’t get George and Peppa a separate room.’
In an exclusive interview with Grazia Magazine, Mummy Pig had spoken of her fears over the financial burden of having a piglet in the cost-of-living crisis.
She said: ‘I won’t say it hasn’t been a concern for us – and times are already quite tight. We still have lots of Peppa and George’s pre-loved baby things for the new little one to use, so that helps with some of the costs – and it’s very good for the planet, too!’
But while fans were delighted to hear of the safe arrival, they were left unimpressed over the family not using the NHS.
One questioned: ‘What the hell does Daddy Pig do to afford that level of private healthcare? You know Mummy Pig didn’t get that on the NHS.’
To which another fan pointed out: ‘They have their own reality TV show!’
A third wrote: ‘Let’s be honest Peppa’s family probably rakes in millions their show has been going on for years now, of course they can afford private, the house shown on TV is just their stage set they probably live somewhere else.’
Meanwhile another fan asked, ‘Is peppa pig actually rich?’, adding: ‘What do you mean mummy pig gave birth to evie pig in a private hospital?
A town crier officially announced the piglet’s birth outside the hospital on Tuesday morning
Peppa Pig fans have questioned where the family got their money from to afford private care. One joked: ‘They have their own reality TV show!’
‘If she had given birth in a public NHS hospital it would’ve been free but a private hospital would’ve cost her around 6k…. the Peppa Pig lore is so crazy.’
Others joked that £6,000 was affordable compared to the US, with one writing: ‘As an American I’m caught on the fact that the fancy hospital that the royals have given birth at is way cheaper than mediocre American hospitals.’
Another joked: ‘Why didn’t they go to the vet???’
Speaking after giving birth, Mummy Pig told Hello Magazine how they were ‘ready and prepared for days before’, adding: ‘Daddy Pig kept repacking the overnight bag, checking routes to the hospital running drills on how quickly we could get there.’
The name and first pictures of Peppa Pig’s baby sister were revealed on Tuesday.
ITV’s Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Arnold on Tuesday shared the first photographs of baby Evie yesterday.
Peppa Pig’s family revealed how the new member of their family Evie has settled into the family, 24 hours after her birth
The name and first pictures of Peppa Pig’s baby sister were revealed on Tuesday
Arnold said: ‘Daddy Pig has just shared these pictures with me of Peppa’s brand new baby sister Evie, named after Mummy Pig’s Aunt Evie, she was born at 5.34am this morning.’
The gender of the baby was revealed in April when the chimneys of Battersea Power Station were lit up in pink to show Mummy Pig was expecting another girl.
The animated show later announced an hour-long screening format, Peppa Meets The Baby, which is due to come out on May 30 and will feature 10 new song-filled episodes as Peppa and George prepare for the arrival of their sister.
Evie is expected to appear on screen in the series from autumn.
