William will take two weeks’ paternity leave from air ambulance job

HE only started his new job two weeks ago. But Prince William confirmed yesterday that he will take his full fortnight of paternity leave when his second child is born later this month.

The future king, 32, became the most senior member of the royal family to work as an ordinary PAYE employee when he became a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance.

According to Kensington Palace, he plans to take time off to be with his wife and new baby, just like he did when his son, Prince George, was born in 2013.

The second in line to the throne will be working throughout April in three sites – Cambridge, Norwich and Gloucestershire Airport.

The Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile, will largely be based at their London home Kensington Palace. Royal staff have already ruled out using a helicopter to transport William back to London, meaning the prince faces a two-hour ‘blues and twos’ dash back to the capital.

He could even risk missing the birth if their second child arrives more quickly than expected, although aides acknowledge that the scenario is unlikely. They also made clear that Kate, who has been staying at the couple’s new country home in Norfolk, Anmer Hall, plans to return to the capital soon and intends to give birth at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, where a natural birth costs up to £10,000.

Her team will be led by Guy Thorpe-Beeston, Surgeon Gynaecologist to the Royal Household. Contingency plans have been put in place at other hospitals – Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge and the Royal Berkshire, close to Kate’s parents – should the Duchess, 33, go into labour outside of the capital. Kate, whose public duties ended last month, has not specified how much maternity leave she intends to take.

But sources have told the Mail that she will return to Kensington Palace to recuperate before travelling to Norfolk to set up home at Anmer Hall. An aide said: ‘Her focus will be on her family over the summer.’ With an imminent General Election, aides were also asked whether they might time their announcement around the campaign, but one quipped: ‘Babies arrive when they arrive!’