Kate Middleton

By Joanna Crawley On January 26, 2014

While Aussies celebrate Austalia Day today, Kate Middleton and Prince William are busy preparing for their own trip to Australia and New Zealand in the spring.

The royal couple are due to jet around the world in April for an official tour of the region, with their son Prince George widely expected to join his parents for his first overseas trip.

While nothing's been confirmed, Wills did admit last year that he hopes the couple will fly as a trio, just like he did with his own parents Diana, Princess of Wales and Prince Charles back in 1983.

Princess Di and Prince Charles broke with royal tradition to bring William on their own trip Down Under when the king-to-be was just nine months old. It's even been rumoured Kate and William could base themselves in the same Sydney homestead where his parents stayed.

It's been reported that the royal family will set up base in Sydney in order to give George some stability throughout the gruelling schedule of visits, openings and meetings with local officials and charities.

The preparations are said to have hit a stumbling block though as the the Mail Online report that the couple's current nanny, Jessie Webb, who also looked after William when he was a child, has reached the end of her contract.

According to inside sources the 71-year-old was only on a three month contract after coming out of retirement to look after Prince George, and while William and Kate are said to be keen to retain her services, they understand she will most likely not make the long trip to Australia and New Zealand.

While it was thought Kate's mother Carole could join her daughter and son-in-law on the Australia trip to help out, royal aides have denied the claims. "They need round-the-clock help for George if he joins them," said a source." Kate might also want to think about taking a dresser or a lady's maid. It sounds grand, but it's actually very practical. The Queen wouldn't dream of travelling overseas without a lady-in-waiting."

Get more details on the royal tour of Australia and New Zealand in the video above.

Kate, Duchess of Cambridge leaves Hope House in February, it beign her first official visit while pregnant (Wenn)