Duke and Duchess of Cambridge 'still do not know if second child will be boy or girl'

The royal couple's second child is thought to be due at the end of April. Credit: Press Association

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are "hugely grateful for the warm wishes" they have received ahead of the birth of their second child - but they still do not know if it will be a boy or girl, a source said.

The Duchess is expected to give birth towards the end of April at the Lindo Wing, the private maternity department of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington where Prince George was born.

The delivery team will be led by Guy Thorpe-Beeston, surgeon gynaecologist to the Royal Household. He also helped deliver Prince George in July 2013.

Guy Thorpe-Beeston (left) Marcus Setchell (middle) and Alan Farthing (right), leaving the hospital after the birth of Prince George in 2013 Credit: PA

The birth of the child will be announced on the official Kensington Palace Twitter account and also in the traditional manner - with a royal bulletin displayed in Buckingham Palace's forecourt on the same ornate easel used when George was born.

The official notification of the royal birth will be placed on an easel at Buckingham Palace Credit: ITV News

The Duke will take two weeks paternity leave from his job as an air ambulance helicopter pilot and join his family at Kensington Palace where they will spend the first few days after the birth before travelling to their Norkfolk home Anmer Hall, the source added.

William is due to begin flying rescue missions with the East Anglian Air Ambulance in the summer and is currently undergoing training.

Prince William at the controls of a Sea King helicopter which he used to fly in Anglesey. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire

The source would not comment on when Kate would return to public duties but added "as you would expect, with two very young children her focus will be on the family during the summer".