Prince William Prepares for Fatherhood

Prince William Prepares for Fatherhood

Prince William may not let his six-months-pregnant wife, Kate, win at ping-pong – "Ahem, I think that was 6-2," he teased after beating her in an impromptu match at a Scotland youth center April 4 – but he is getting ready to make bigger concessions to his family-in-the-making. 

A source close to William tells PEOPLE the prince will soon announce he's leaving the RAF Valley – a search-and-rescue helicopter unit based in Anglesey, Wales.

His work there kept him away from Kate, and the cozy farmhouse they shared with dog Lupo, for as many as 10 24-hour shifts each month. 

William has said he loves his work with the RAF, but he loves his wife and baby-to-be even more.


"He's ready for the next step," says the source. The couple's baby joy has brought them even closer, say those who know them. "They've always been close but it's been much more pronounced since she has become pregnant," says royals author Judy Wade.