We’re in full #RoyalBabyWatch mode and some royal fans are wondering if Prince Harry will take some time off from royal duties with the birth of his first child. Recent reports revealed that the Duke of Sussex will take off two weeks (give or take) following his baby’s birth. And here’s what we know about Prince Harry’s paternity leave.
Unlike U.S. dads, papas from across the pond can receive paid paternity leave. While American dads are entitled to 12 weeks of leave (provided they have worked full-time for at least one year for a company that has at least 50 employees), it isn’t paid. The result is that 70 percent of new fathers in the United States take 10 or less days off, according to the Department of Labor. And just about every expert agrees—that isn’t good for anyone.
What exactly does paternity leave look like for a prince? To start, in the United Kingdom new dads are entitled to up to two weeks paid paternity leave. So if you’re wondering where Harry’s two-week post-birth selection came from, there you go. While two weeks doesn’t sound like a lot, eligible parents have the opportunity to get Shared Parental Leave, where mom and dad can share up to 50 weeks of leave—with up to 37 of those weeks paid.
During a recent interview with Us Weekly, Dickie Arbiter, Queen Elizabeth II’s former spokesman, said, “It’s a modern thing. Prince William did it for his children and Harry’s going to do it for his, when his child is born. I mean, the older generation didn’t do it. The older generation just got on with it. But it’s a new thing.”
Arbiter speculated on the exact length of Harry’s paternity leave, saying, “I would have thought no more than about two or three weeks.”
—Erica Loop
Featured photo: Kensington Royal via Instagram
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