The announcement on Monday that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, both 30, are expecting their first child ended feverish speculation about a new royal heir that began immediately after their lavish wedding in April 2011.
The child, to be born next summer, will be third in line to the throne regardless of whether it is a girl or a boy, after a historic agreement among Commonwealth countries last year to end the practice of male primogeniture.
St James’ Palace said Kate was still at the “very early stages” of pregnancy — she is believed to be less than 12 weeks — but it is thought the news was released because her admission to hospital would have made her condition public.
Kate has hyperemesis gravidarum, a very acute form of morning sickness which affects 3.5 in every 1,000 pregnant women.
Although it is not dangerous for the baby, it can be highly unpleasant for the mother as it causes severe vomiting and carries a danger of dehydration and nutritional deficiencies.
William, the second in line to the throne after his father Prince Charles, was at his wife’s bedside at the private King Edward VII hospital in central London on Monday before leaving at 8.20pm.
He left without a comment or even a smile for the banks of waiting cameras, although his wife is expected to remain in hospital for several days.
Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles — for whom this is his first grandchild — and his wife Camilla were said by the palace to be “delighted with the news”, as were Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
In Washington, US President Barack Obama sent his congratulations:
“On behalf of everyone here in the White House, beginning with the president and the first lady, we extend our congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the welcome news this morning out of London that they are expecting their first child,” White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
