Duchess Catherine

Duchess Catherine

Britain's royal baby will have a relatively "normal" childhood.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to welcome their first child into the world "mid-july" and the pair are said to be keen to break traditions in order to give their offspring the best possible start to life.

Darren McGrady, the former Kensington Palace chef, told Us Weekly magazine: "Kate, I understand, can cook, so I think she will do some cooking, but of course once the baby comes along, [she and William will] be expected to start taking on royal engagements again, so any sort of free time they get they'll want to be spending having quality time with the baby -- and not peeling apples and making purees."

Duchess Catherine -who has been dividing her time between the palace and her parent's home in Berkshire in the run up to her labour - will spend the first six weeks with her newborn at her parents Carole and Michael Middleton's manor.

Darren explained: "It seems over the years we're getting a normalisation of the royal family.

"We are seeing them become more normal, but as I said, time is going to dictate that they're not going to be able to go in the kitchen and cook baby food and things. I think things will be a little more lenient when they go across to Kate's parents, the Middletons, that will be more of a normal side."