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William and Kate's second royal baby: Why the couple will be based at Anmer Hall

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William and Kate are ready and waiting for their new arrival. The royal couple are counting down the days until the Duchess, née Kate Middleton, goes into labour and makes the journey from Kensington Palace to the Lindo Wing at St Mary's Hospital, while Prince William rushes from his work commitments with the East Anglia Air Service to be by his wife's side.The Cambridges won't be staying in the capital for long, however, and soon after presenting their new baby to the waiting media and fans, they will head to Anmer Hall – their country home on the Queen's Sandringham Estate.While the royal couple spent their first weeks as new parents in 2013 with Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton in Berkshire, this time around they have chosen to establish their first home as a family of four in the ten-bedroom Georgian property.

anmer 2 © Photo: Rex

William and Kate will spend their first months as a family of four at Anmer Hall

William and Kate, who have been extensively remodelling the house with a new driveway, a modern swimming pool, tennis court and a conservatory, are already right at home in their Norfolk home and are regularly spotted in the surrounding towns' shops, markets and pubs.Kate also frequently visits Snettisham Farm Park with Prince George and the mother-son duo enjoy visiting the animals there together. "Kate comes here a lot with George," a source at the farm told the Mail on Sunday. "She is absolutely lovely and George is delightful.""There is never a fuss when she's here," the source added of the low-key royal. "If she wasn't pointed out to you, you wouldn't know she was here. She goes about her business like any other young mum and dotes on her child. Little George is lovely, extraordinarily social and other children seem to fuss over him. They have no idea who he is."

kate © Photo: Getty Images

Kate and George (pictured at a polo match in June 2014) are frequently spotted together at a nearby farm

Duchess Kate, who grew up in the quiet village of Bucklebury, seems keen to emulate her countryside upbringing with her own children and her mother Carole is said to be moving in to help out with childcare once William's two-week paternity leave is over.The Duke and Duchess are keeping the number of those working at Anmer Hall to a minimum and have chosen not to hire another nanny to help care for their new baby.Last month the couple placed an advertisement in The Lady looking for a "loyal and discreet" housekeeper, whose job would also include cleaning, some cooking and occasional childcare.

will v c © Photo: Rex

Prince George's godfather William Van Cutsem lives near Anmer Hall with his wife Rosie

As well as their small team of staff and family members on hand, William and Kate's Nofolk location means that they are near a number of their close friends.According to the Mail on Sunday, Prince George's godfather William Van Cutsem and his wife Rosie live in Hilborough, 40 minutes away from Anmer Hall, while William's cousin Laura Fellowes and her husband Nick Pettman live in West Norfolk.William's Etonian pal Archie Soames is based at West Barsham Hall in Fakenham and the Duckworth-Chad family live at Pynkney Hall near King's Lynn.

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