Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant

[xxMATTGxx]

The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby, St James's Palace has announced.

Members of the royal family and the duchess's family, the Middletons, are said to be delighted.

A spokesman said the duchess has been admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in central London with acute morning sickness and is expected to stay for several days.

The royal baby will be born third in line and in direct succession to the throne.

He or she will one day be head of the armed forces, supreme governor of the Church of England and head of the Commonwealth, and subsequently head of state of 16 countries.

Catherine and William were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.

The duchess was last seen in public on Friday when she visited her old school St Andrew's School in Pangbourne in Berkshire.

In a statement, St James's Palace said: "Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news."

It said the duchess was being treated in hospital suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, which requires supplementary 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," it added.

St James's Palace refused to be drawn on when the royal couple became aware of the pregnancy, only saying "recently".

But it is understood that the pregnancy has not passed the 12 week point and the palace announcement was prompted by the Duchess's medical condition.

Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that he was "delighted by the news", adding: "They will make wonderful parents."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20586343


Congratulations to them both!

[Empired]

Cute cute cute cute cute!! A lot of pressure for her and the baby when it comes though (from the press ugh)
They should call it Charlotte or Charles and then shorten it to Charlie.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Congratulations to them both, a new direct Royal heir to the throne!

I'd like some of the older names of royalty to be brought back into use, think we've had too many Edwards and Georges in past 200 to 300 years!

[Martin]

aww yay thats great news!

[Red]

Awwwww, a royal baby. Congrats to them!!

[-:Undertaker:-]

If we're all lucky and make it to a ripe old age, then some of us might live to the day when this child comes to the throne.

Interesting thought that we may live to see four Monarchs sit on the throne.

[Inseriousity.]

Anyone else hoping it's a girl? I remember reading the news that they were abolishing the 'boys first' rule but did it end up going through?

Congrats to them I'm sure they'll be great parents but not looking forward to the intense-and-irrelevant news reports this is going to cause in the newspapers. It was bad enough with the Royal Wedding when every little thing was given a 2 page spread (lol okay maybe a slight exaggeration there).

[-:Undertaker:-]

Anyone else hoping it's a girl? I remember reading the news that they were abolishing the 'boys first' rule but did it end up going through?

Congrats to them I'm sure they'll be great parents but not looking forward to the intense-and-irrelevant news reports this is going to cause in the newspapers. It was bad enough with the Royal Wedding when every little thing was given a 2 page spread (lol okay maybe a slight exaggeration there).

It went through and was agreed by all Commonwealth governments, so this baby (barring unforeseen circumstances) will be Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. Personally although I think our best monarchs have been women (Queen Elizabeth I, Empress Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II) I didn't see the need to change it - sort of takes away the mystery and tradition.

But still exciting and it's nice to have some good news once in a while.

Edit: somebody just raised the point, what if she has twins?

[Absently]

aw, this is so lovely!!!

[Grig]

It went through and was agreed by all Commonwealth governments, so this baby (barring unforeseen circumstances) will be Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. Personally although I think our best monarchs have been women (Queen Elizabeth I, Empress Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II) I didn't see the need to change it - sort of takes away the mystery and tradition.

But still exciting and it's nice to have some good news once in a while.

Edit: somebody just raised the point, what if she has twins?

Oh so it was changed, never knew . This then would mean if say baby 1 was a girl and baby 2 was a boy, baby 1 would not override baby 2's claim to the throne. Interesting.

Congrats to them as well!


And LOL Mike, don't remind me of how much they over-hype it!