London: Prince Harry seems set to miss the birth of his niece or nephew when he flies back to Australia on Monday, as his sister-in-law Kate waits to go into labour.
Harry, who is on attachment with the Australian army, was briefly back in Britain at the weekend, giving him a chance of being in town for the birth of his brother Prince William`s second child, which is due by the end of the month.
But it seems he may not get to see the new prince or princess -- who will take his place as fourth in line to the throne -- until he returns in mid-May.
Army captain Harry, 30, will spend time with Australian army units in Perth and Sydney before he embarks on an official tour of New Zealand from May 9 to May 16.
Alice, Charlotte, Elizabeth and Victoria remain the favourite girls` names with the bookmakers, while James, Arthur, Alexander and Philip are the favourite boys` names.
British Prime Minister David Cameron has defended William and Kate opting to use private health care for the birth rather than the state-run National Health Service.
As with the couple`s first child Prince George, who was born in July 2013, the baby is set to be born in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary`s Hospital in London, where prices start at £5,215 ($7,900, 7,280 euros) a night.
"I think it`s a total matter of choice for people -- what they use and where they have their babies," Cameron told Sky News television.
"I believe in choice, I believe in people being able to do what they want to do.
"All I hope and pray for is there`ll be happy, healthy news for that wonderful couple and for the whole country."