Kate Middleton: Duchess of Cambridge plans extended maternity leave for second royal baby

In 2014, the royals hired Maria Borrallo to help with Prince George but Kate Middleton will not hire another nanny to help with the second royal baby, it has emerged.

People magazine reports that unlike with 20-month-old George, when the Duchess of Cambridge returned to her royal duties just eight weeks after his birth in 2013, she intends to enjoy an extended leave of absence.

An insider claims she is keen to "fully enjoy the bonding experience" with her two children. "They are happy with the arrangement. If anything changes it wouldn't be for a while," the source said. "She felt she came back too soon later time. She wants to have that [family] and enjoy it with George and the new baby."

Although it is not known how the Queen reacted to the news, it looks like Prince William fully supports his wife's decision to extend her maternity leave this time around.

"The couple are concentrating on family with the full blessing — indeed, encouragement — of dad, Prince Charles," reads the report. "[He] wants them to have as much as a normal life as possible."

But Ken Wharfe, who was a personal protection officer to the late Princess Diana, believes it's only a matter of time.

"They may not have one initially but they'll have one ultimately, in six months to a year," he explained. " When George is being taken out, someone's got to stay in and look after the other one. They'll have to have a reserve nanny to do the babysitting when the other's out."

Meanwhile, Middleton has fuelled speculation that the royal couple are expecting a baby girl after reportedly buying pink paint.

According to the Mail Online, Oxford interior design company Annie Sloan delivered three "feminine" paint samples to Anmer Hall where Middleton resides her with husband and their one-year-old son.

The rumour mill went into overdrive in March after People magazine reported the fashionista was spotted looking at baby clothes in the girls' section of Amaia, a children's boutique.

"She was looking at all the girls' clothing. She was very interested," Segolene Tresca, the store's co-owner, reportedly told the publication.

Middleton is expected to welcome her second child towards the end of April.