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28 March 2024

Baby No 2: Kate's acute morning sickness; Prince William thrilled

Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge stand amid the Tower of London's 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War One (WW1), in London August 5, 2014. (REUTERS)

Published
By Reuters

Britain's Prince William said on Monday he and wife Kate were thrilled to be expecting their second baby, after news of the pregnancy was released early because the Duchess had been suffering from morning sickness.

The baby will be fourth-in-line to the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles, father William and elder brother George, the couple's first child born in July last year. There was no mention of when the baby was due.

The announcement was made on Monday after Kate was forced to pull out of an official engagement at the University of Oxford because she was feeling unwell.

(Reuters)

"We're immensely thrilled, it's great news, early days but I'm hoping that things settle down, she feels a bit better," Prince William told reporters on the visit.

"She's feeling ok, it's been a tricky few days, week or so. I'm going to go back and look after her now."

(Bang)

Buckingham Palace said Queen Elizabeth and both the royal and Kate's families were delighted.

William's office said Kate, 32, was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum, an acute morning sickness which causes severe nausea and vomiting and requires supplementary hydration and nutrients, a condition that led to her hospitalisation in the early months of pregnancy with her first child.

(AFP)

A spokeswoman said Kate had not needed hospital treatment this time, but was under the care of doctors at Kensington Palace, the couple's London residence. Her future engagements, including her first solo overseas trip to Malta, would be reviewed on a case by case basis, the spokeswoman said.

CONGRATULATIONS

George was born amid an international media frenzy, underlying the global popularity of the young British royals. Since his birth, George has graced the cover of Vanity Fair and his few public appearances have garnered huge media attention.

(AFP)

There had been speculation this year that William, 32, and Kate, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since their marriage in April 2011, would announce a pregnancy.

"Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby," British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Twitter.

(AFP)

After the birth of his son last year, William spoke about his desire to be a hands-on father and soon afterward announced he would leave the military after more than seven years in the armed services, to focus instead on his charity and increasing royal duties.

However, in August he said he would start work as an air ambulance pilot next year based at Cambridge and Norwich in eastern England.

(TWITTER:Clarence House)

While the pregnancy led the headlines in Britain, William said attention should be elsewhere.

"It's important that we all focus on the big news and the big international and domestic news that's going on at the moment. That's where my thoughts are at the moment," he said.