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William On Leave As Kate Prepares For Birth

The Duke of Cambridge has finished the initial phase of training for his new job earlier than expected meaning he is now on leave until after his wife gives birth.

William performed well in the first phase of his air ambulance helicopter pilot training with Bond Air Services which, along with good flying conditions, allowed him to progress sooner than planned.

He will now be off duty until 1 June following his paternity leave and a pre-planned period of official royal engagements in late May, a Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

They added: "As he now will not have any further training to complete after returning from paternity leave, he will not return to duties with Bond until that time, and will remain on unpaid leave until then."

There has not been any official announcement about when the Duchess of Cambridge is due to give birth to her second child, but she told a volunteer at a children's centre in March she was expecting to have the baby from mid to late April.

If the baby is born today it will share its birthday with the Queen, who turns 89, as well as being her fifth great-grandchild.

And if he or she arrives before the weekend, they could get to meet their uncle Prince Harry earlier than first thought when he makes a brief return to the UK from his military attachment in Australia.

Harry is due to attend the Gallipoli commemorations in Turkey on Friday and Saturday with his father the Prince of Wales before heading to the London Marathon on Sunday, the Kensington Palace spokesperson said.

He will make the presentations to the winners and then make his way back to Australia on Monday, giving him a short window in which he could visit a new arrival.

:: Sky's Kay Burley on her preparations for reporting on the arrival of the new royal baby

Confirmation of the changes to William and Harry's schedules came as devoted royal watchers began to gather outside the hospital in central London where the Duchess is due to give birth.

Marie Scott and Amy Thompson were outside the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital for the arrival of Prince George and have already been in London for two weeks, hoping to get the best position to see the new baby.

Ms Thompson told Sky News: "The last time the atmosphere was so electric, and the feeling that we got when they came out with the baby, we couldn't miss this one."

Ms Scott believes it is partly down to the royal couple that there is less hype this time.

She said: "I think William and Kate themselves have wanted it kept a bit low key, but we're still as excited as the last time."

Margaret Tyler, who is known as the queen of royal memorabilia, is still hedging her bets on whether it will be a boy or a girl.

Pointing at the pink and blue balloons in her hands, Ms Tyler said: "A prince or a princess? We don't know.

"They say that William and Kate don't know, so sure as hell we don't know.

"It would be nice to have a little girl but in my heart I think George would like a little brother.

"He looks quite a tough little boy and boys like boys so they can hit each other and play football."

The Centre for Retail Research has estimated William and Kate's latest little one will bring retail sales of £60m to £70m, as people stock up on champagne, souvenirs and possibly a few new baby clothes.

Designer Rachel Riley has already experienced the "Prince George effect", after he wore some of her clothes on the family's tour of Australia and New Zealand.

She said: "In terms of the fashion business it's womenswear, followed by menswear and then childrenswear right at the bottom.

"We never have the spotlight with childrenswear, so I think that having Prince George, who was named the most influential toddler in the world, and then a new baby brother or sister, I think it just showcases babywear, which isn't always in the spotlight."

While dozens of television crews from around the world have already started arriving and preparing for the new baby, this time around they have been told there is to be no live filming until the Duchess goes into labour, so for now the camera pens are empty.