Britain's Kate and Prince William expecting a baby
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Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is seen meeting James William Davies, the five month old son of Tessa Davies (right) who was named after Prince William, following a visit to the Guildhall in Cambridge, central England in this Nov 28, 2012 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge meets children working on projects as she visits Manor School during an official visit to Cambridge, England with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, unseen, Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 . -- PHOTO: AP
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Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speaks with members of the public as she and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive for a visit to Peterborough City Hospital in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (right) is presented a bouquet of flowers by seven-year-old Jamie Andrew (left) during her visit to Peterborough City Hospital in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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In this file picture taken on Oct 9, 2012 Prince William The Duke of Cambridge (left) and his wife Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge walk together during the opening of the Football Associations National Fooball Centre, St Georges Park in Burton Upon Trent. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen kissing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, watched by bridemaids Grace van Cutsem (left) and Margarita Armstrong-Jones and pageboy Tom Pettifer, after their wedding in Westminster Abbey, in central London in this April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen travelling to Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State Landau, along the Procession Route, after their wedding in Westminster Abbey, in central in this London April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen looking at each other as they leave Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony in central London in this April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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In this Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 file photo Britain's Prince William meets with a young member of the public as she arrives at the Guildhall during a visit to Cambridge England. -- PHOTO: AP
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Britain's Prince William and his bride Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen posing for an official photograph, with their bridesmaids and pageboys, on the day of their wedding, in the throne room at Buckingham Palace, in central London in an April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Prince William leaves the King Edward VII hospital where his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted with a severe form of morning sickness, central London, Monday, Dec 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (right) and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (left) eat biscuits during their visit to Jimmy's Cambridge, a night shelter they opened, during their visit to Cambridge, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Botanic Gardens, which was the first stop on their tour of Singapore. Britain’s royal family announced Monday that Prince William and his wife are expecting their first child. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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Prince William and Wife Catherine have left the Botanic Gardens for their hotel. The duchess was dressed in a beautiful pale pink dress with orchid prints. She emerged with a bouquet of the orchids that were named after the royal couple. -- ST PHOTO: Melissa Pang
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Kate looks over at tourists screaming her name and asking for photos. -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
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The crowd at Raffles Hotel erupts into cheers as Kate emerges from the car. -- ST Photo: Jennani Durai
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The Duke and Duchess arrive at the Raffles Hotel -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
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Tiger orchids and golden shower orchids that the Duchess will be presented with -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
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Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. They will also see the orchid named after the late princess Diana. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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A photo of the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana, named after the late Diana Spencer. -- ST PHOTO: Melissa Pang
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Madam Norhaini Tambunan narrowly missed the arrival of the Duke and Duchess and was sorely disappointed as she had made a card and bought some gifts she wanted to pass to them. She had trouble communicating this to officials as she is deaf and mute, but with enough persistence managed to get someone to take her gifts in to the concierge. -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
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Britain's Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smile at the crowds as they arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple are in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Prince William, (left), looks on as his wife Catherine, (center), receives flowers upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Changi International Airport in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Prince William, (second left), and his wife Catherine, (center, behind), are greeted upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Changi International Airport in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. They will also see the orchid named after the late princess Diana. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
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Britain's Prince William, (left), and his wife Catherine, (right), the Duchess of Cambridge, view a hybrid orchid named in their honor at the Orchid Garden within the Singapore Botanical Gardens in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smiles during a ceremony naming an orchid hybrid in honour of her and Prince William at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. The garden is the first stop for the royal couple, who is on their three-day tour of the city-state as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks at the crowds as she arrives with Prince William at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple is in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives with Britain's Prince William (unseen) at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple is in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Britain's Prince William, (center), and his wife Catherine (second left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Prince William, (center), and his wife Catherine (second left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Britain's Prince William, (right), and his wife Catherine, (left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is seen meeting James William Davies, the five month old son of Tessa Davies (right) who was named after Prince William, following a visit to the Guildhall in Cambridge, central England in this Nov 28, 2012 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Kate, Duchess of Cambridge meets children working on projects as she visits Manor School during an official visit to Cambridge, England with Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, unseen, Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 . -- PHOTO: AP
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge speaks with members of the public as she and Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge arrive for a visit to Peterborough City Hospital in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (right) is presented a bouquet of flowers by seven-year-old Jamie Andrew (left) during her visit to Peterborough City Hospital in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
In this file picture taken on Oct 9, 2012 Prince William The Duke of Cambridge (left) and his wife Catherine the Duchess of Cambridge walk together during the opening of the Football Associations National Fooball Centre, St Georges Park in Burton Upon Trent. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen kissing on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, watched by bridemaids Grace van Cutsem (left) and Margarita Armstrong-Jones and pageboy Tom Pettifer, after their wedding in Westminster Abbey, in central London in this April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge are seen travelling to Buckingham Palace in the 1902 State Landau, along the Procession Route, after their wedding in Westminster Abbey, in central in this London April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen looking at each other as they leave Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony in central London in this April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
In this Wednesday Nov 28, 2012 file photo Britain's Prince William meets with a young member of the public as she arrives at the Guildhall during a visit to Cambridge England. -- PHOTO: AP
Britain's Prince William and his bride Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, are seen posing for an official photograph, with their bridesmaids and pageboys, on the day of their wedding, in the throne room at Buckingham Palace, in central London in an April 29, 2011 file photograph. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Prince William leaves the King Edward VII hospital where his wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted with a severe form of morning sickness, central London, Monday, Dec 3, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge (right) and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (left) eat biscuits during their visit to Jimmy's Cambridge, a night shelter they opened, during their visit to Cambridge, north of London, on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Botanic Gardens, which was the first stop on their tour of Singapore. Britain’s royal family announced Monday that Prince William and his wife are expecting their first child. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Prince William and Wife Catherine have left the Botanic Gardens for their hotel. The duchess was dressed in a beautiful pale pink dress with orchid prints. She emerged with a bouquet of the orchids that were named after the royal couple. -- ST PHOTO: Melissa Pang
Kate looks over at tourists screaming her name and asking for photos. -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
The crowd at Raffles Hotel erupts into cheers as Kate emerges from the car. -- ST Photo: Jennani Durai
The Duke and Duchess arrive at the Raffles Hotel -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
Tiger orchids and golden shower orchids that the Duchess will be presented with -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. They will also see the orchid named after the late princess Diana. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
A photo of the Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana, named after the late Diana Spencer. -- ST PHOTO: Melissa Pang
Madam Norhaini Tambunan narrowly missed the arrival of the Duke and Duchess and was sorely disappointed as she had made a card and bought some gifts she wanted to pass to them. She had trouble communicating this to officials as she is deaf and mute, but with enough persistence managed to get someone to take her gifts in to the concierge. -- ST PHOTO: Jennani Durai
Britain's Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smile at the crowds as they arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple are in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Prince William, (left), looks on as his wife Catherine, (center), receives flowers upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Changi International Airport in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Prince William, (second left), and his wife Catherine, (center, behind), are greeted upon their arrival at the VIP terminal of Changi International Airport in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Prince William and his wife Kate have an orchid named after them at the Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. They will also see the orchid named after the late princess Diana. -- ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Britain's Prince William, (left), and his wife Catherine, (right), the Duchess of Cambridge, view a hybrid orchid named in their honor at the Orchid Garden within the Singapore Botanical Gardens in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, smiles during a ceremony naming an orchid hybrid in honour of her and Prince William at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Sept 11, 2012. The garden is the first stop for the royal couple, who is on their three-day tour of the city-state as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, looks at the crowds as she arrives with Prince William at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple is in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrives with Britain's Prince William (unseen) at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on Sept 11, 2012. The royal couple is in the city-state for a three-day visit starting on Tuesday as part of a tour to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Britain's Prince William, (center), and his wife Catherine (second left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Prince William, (center), and his wife Catherine (second left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
Britain's Prince William, (right), and his wife Catherine, (left), the Duchess of Cambridge, arrive at Raffles Hotel in Singapore on September 11, 2012. The couple arrived in Singapore to kick off a nine-day Southeast Asian and Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. -- PHOTO: AFP
LONDON (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Catherine announced Monday they are expecting their first child, ending fevered speculation about a baby destined to become Britain's monarch whether it is a boy or a girl.
The former Kate Middleton, 30, is in hospital suffering from severe morning sickness, St James's Palace announced in a statement. Queen Elizabeth II and the rest of the royal family were "delighted" by the news of the pregnancy while William - the son of the late Princess Diana and the heir to the throne Prince Charles - had visited her in hospital, the palace said.
The pregnancy adds to resurgent support for the monarchy after the pomp of William and Catherine's wedding in April 2011 and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark the queen's 60th year on the throne in June this year.
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," St James's Palace said in a statement, using the couple's official titles. The baby is set to be third in line to the British throne after Charles and William, irrespective of its gender, following moves by the government to change ancient succession laws giving priority to male children.
The palace said the couple were only "recently" aware that Catherine was pregnant. The Press Association reported that the pregnancy has not passed the 12-week point and that the announcement was prompted by her medical condition.
The palace said Catherine was admitted on Monday afternoon to the King Edward VII Hospital in central London with "hyperemesis gravidarum", which it defined as "very acute morning sickness", which requires extra hydration and nutrients.
"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter," the statement said.
William, also 30, visited his wife in hospital before leaving to a flurry of flashbulbs at around 8:20 pm (2020 GMT).
British media said the couple had been staying at her parents' house in Berkshire, west of London, and travelled by car to the hospital.
The queen, her husband Prince Philip, William's father Prince Charles, Charles's wife Camilla, William's brother Prince Harry "and members of both families are delighted with the news," the palace said.
Prime Minister David Cameron said the royal couple would make "wonderful parents" and that "people round the country will be celebrating with them tonight." William's uncle Earl Charles Spencer - the brother of Diana who won praise for his emotional eulogy at her funeral after she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - said he was "thrilled for them both".
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who met the royal couple during a state visit to Britain last year, sent their congratulations on the "welcome news", the White House said.
The news flashed around the world on Twitter with the hashtag #royalbaby and crashed the couple's official website.
Catherine, a "commoner" whose parents are self-made millionaires from a party supplies business, met William at St Andrews University in Scotland in 2001.
Speculation about a royal pregnancy intensified last Wednesday when the couple were given a baby's romper suit during their first visit together to Cambridge, the historic English university city which is home to their dukedom.
William laughed and said "I'll keep that" after accepting the tiny hand-stitched outfit with the words "Daddy's little co-pilot", a reference to his job as a Royal Air Force search and rescue helicopter pilot.
Catherine - whose sudden adoption of a new fringed hairstyle also got tongues wagging - had her last public engagement on Friday at her old primary school, where she showed off her hockey skills.
The baby news comes just over one year since Commonwealth nations agreed to scrap centuries-old laws barring first-born daughters from inheriting the British throne if younger male heirs were available.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said Monday that Britain was currently in the process of overhauling the 1701 Act of Settlement.
Royal commentator Kate Williams told BBC TV the child would be "politically and constitutionally important" due to its place as the first possible heir to be born after the change in the succession laws.
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