Duchess of Cambridge pregnant with second child

THE announcement on Monday that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expecting their second child brought a cascade of congratulations from political leaders and made headline news around the world.

The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her second child. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The new royal baby, due in the spring next year, will be fourth in line to the throne – knocking Prince Harry into fifth position.

The news, announced by Clarence House via Twitter, comes a year and two months after the birth of Prince George in St Mary’s Hospital in London.

The palace said the Queen and members of both William and Kate’s families were “delighted”.

The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her second child. Picture: Ian Rutherford

It emerged the duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant – the time when many parents-to-be often wait to break the news as the risk of miscarriage dramatically reduces after this period.

The decision was made to announce the news as it emerged Kate, 32, is suffering from a severe form of morning sickness. The royals opted to go public with their news amid concerns it may not remain a secret for much longer.

The duchess was today forced to pull out of a joint visit with Prince William to open a new £21 million China study centre at Oxford University.

Officials also revealed a question mark remained over her future engagements including a visit to Malta, her first overseas solo trip, which she is due to embark on later this month.

The duchess’s first pregnancy was revealed when she was just a few weeks pregnant with Prince George after she was admitted to hospital suffering from severe morning sickness in December 2012.

The sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, is a condition that can require expectant mothers to take supplementary hydration, medication and nutrients. It was revealed that Kate is being treated for the illness from home and has not required hospital treatment again to date.

A statement from the palace said: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child. The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.

“As with her first pregnancy, the duchess is suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum.”

Speaking at Oxford University, Prince William said it had been a “tricky few days” but it was “great news”. He said it was still “early days”, adding that the couple were “immensely thrilled”.

Prime Minister David Cameron and other Westminster political party leaders, Labour’s Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, offered their congratulations.

With the Scottish referendum just days away, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg refused to be drawn on whether the news of a royal baby would help the campaign to keep the United Kingdom together.

At a Westminster press conference, he said: “The last thing we should do with such wonderful, heart-warming news, which will thrill the whole nation, is to start bringing politics into it.”

Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond also sent his best wishes to Kate – using her Scottish title, the Countess of Strathearn.

He said: “This is very happy news for any couple and, on behalf of the people of Scotland, I am delighted to send our best wishes to the Countess and our hearty congratulations to the royal couple.”

Former England rugby star Mike Tindall, husband of Prince William’s cousin Zara Phillips, said he only found out about the new baby when it broke on the news.

He said: “I just sent them a message saying it was nice to hear the news on the radio.”

The New York Times said: “Pointedly, the Scottish prime minister, Alex Salmond, who is campaigning for Scotland to break away from its 307-year union with England, used the royal couple’s Scottish title in a congratulatory message.”

Tomorrow night, the Duchess is due to attend the opening of the Invictus Games, a sports event for injured soldiers, along with Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.

The following day she is due to attend a solemn Drumhead service at Lee Valley Athletics Centre with the Duke and Prince Harry.

A palace spokesman said: “We will be planning this on a case by case basis – it’s too early to talk about Malta and Invictus.

Morning sickness a ‘miserable condition’

The Duchess of Cambridge is once again suffering from the extreme morning sickness which led to her being hospitalised in December 2012 while expecting her first child.

The condition, hyperemesis gravidarum, can leave sufferers dangerously dehydrated and being sick up to 30 times a day.

It is believed to be caused by elevated levels of the pregnancy hormone HGC (human chorionic gonadotropin) which increases after conception.

It affects 3.5 in 1,000 pregnant women and can also cause them to vomit blood. It can be treated with anti-sickness tablets and giving fluids intravenously.

Dr David Williams, consultant obstetric physician at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London Hospital, said: “It’s a really miserable condition. Pregnancy should be a joyful, happy time but these women feel dreadful. Most are affected in early pregnancy and the worst should be over by week 16, but for some it goes on for much longer.”

Nicola James, of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support, said: “It’s much more difficult [in a second pregnancy]. There’s the guilt you should be spending time with the oldest child when all you want to do is sleep.”

The Duchess’s previous treatment at King Edward VII Hospital, London, was mired in controversy after a nurse took her own life after falling for a prank call.

Have a flutter

A royal baby betting bonanza is under way on names, hair colour and birth day – you can even get odds of 250/1 on triplets.

Current front-runners for names include Elizabeth, Henry and Victoria at 10/1 with Paddy Power; Alexander and James at 9/1 with William Hill, and Diana at 12/1 with Ladbrokes.

William Hill has odds of 16/1 on the baby being born on 21 April – the Queen’s birthday.

Paddy Power is offering 6/4 the baby’s hair will be brown, ahead of fair (5/2), red (3/1) or black (5/1).

William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said: “Last time around, we took over half a million pounds on the royal baby and we fully expect once again the British public will all have their own opinions on whether a boy or girl is on the way.”