When the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, gives birth to her second baby, her family and fellow British royals will be the first to meet the little Prince or Princess. One close family member who may be missing out on the initial excitement, however, is Prince Harry.
The 30-year-old is getting ready to embark on his stint with the Australian army, where he will be spending a month-long secondment with a number of regiments in Sydney, Darwin and Perth.
Because the Prince starts his placement on Monday, it is unlikely that the royal will meet his nephew or niece until he or she is at least a few weeks old.
Prince Harry is thought to still be in Australia working with the army at the end of April
Harry is scheduled to travel to Turkey on 24 and 25 April, travelling from Australia, to accompany his father Prince Charles to the Gallipoli commemorations.
If Kate, who is due in "mid-to-late" April as she previously revealed, gives birth before or on those days, it is more probable that Harry will be able to make a quick trip back to London to see the newborn – who will become fourth-in-line to the throne while Harry moves down to fifth place.
However, if Kate gives birth later on in the month, it is more likely that her brother-in-law will be back finishing his secondment Down Under.
The Duchess of Cambridge revealed she is due in "mid-to-late" April
Harry recently announced that he would be making the trip abroad last month – his final chapter working with the Armed Forces before he ends his ten-year military career in June.
The athletic Prince, who is known as Captain Harry Wales in the British Army, said that it had been a tough decision to leave the army. Harry has served two tours in Afghanistan, qualified as an Apache Aircraft Commander and launched the Paralympic-style Invictus Games in his decade-long career.
Prince William and Kate are leaving the gender of their royal baby a surprise
"From learning the hard way to stay onside with my Colour Sergeant at Sandhurst, to the incredible people I served with during two tours in Afghanistan – the experiences I have had over the last ten years will stay with me for the rest of my life," said Harry. "For that I will always be hugely grateful."
After Australia, the Queen's grandson will undertake an official tour to New Zealand, a country he has never visited, followed by a trip to Africa where he will spend a period of summer carrying out voluntary work alongside field-based conservation experts.
