Prince Harry will take full paternity leave to ‘prove he’s a modern dad’

SOME argue the Royals are old fashioned, but Prince Harry plans to show he’s a very modern dad when he and Meghan Markle welcome their first child.

The Duke of Sussex, 36, who made his last public appearance at the Royal Albert Hall last night, will take his full two weeks of paternity leave when the Duchess, 37, gives birth, according to the Express.

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A friend of the prince told the paper: “He doesn’t need to take paternity leave because he doesn’t work in the way most people do but the thinks it’s a very modern dad thing to do.”

Harry hasn’t had a paid job since he quit his Army post nearly four years ago. His voluntary Royal duties are funded by the Queen and Prince Charles.

As Meghan approaches her due date, doctors are thought to be watching her closely, in case she gives birth prematurely.

Dr Amin Gorgy, a fertility consultant at The Fertility & Gynaecology Academy, told the Express: “Meghan, and older mothers in general above the age of 35, have an increased risk of giving birth early.

“According to a very large Canandian study, women aged between 35 and 39 are 35 per cent more likely to go into premature labour than women aged between 30 and 34.”

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But another Norwegian study of one million mums, cited by the NHS, found no differences in either the mum or dad’s age between premature and full-term babies.

When it comes to cutting the umbilical cord, the couple are said to be looking into a practice called ‘lotus birthing’.

This is where the cord remains attached to the mother, sometimes for days, outside the womb – until it dries up and falls off naturally.

Some believe this helps the baby stay connected to its mum after being born, but others warn the cord could harbour bacteria.

A Buckingham Palace aide told the Express: “I’m sure Her Majesty will accommodate a break from duties.”

Earlier today, we revealed Meghan is having a ‘second baby shower in the UK – and her mum, Kate Middleton and Victoria Beckham are on the list’.