Kate, duchess of Cambridge, and her husband, Prince William, are expecting their second child, a spokesman said Monday, adding that as with her first pregnancy, she is being treated for acute morning sickness.
“Their royal highnesses the duke and duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child,” he said.
Queen Elizabeth II and other members of Britain’s royal family were “delighted” with the news, which comes nearly 14 months after the birth of the couple’s first child, Prince George, he added.
It is understood that the duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant and that the decision to announce the pregnancy was forced by her having to cancel an engagement in Oxford on Monday due to her illness.
The new baby will be fourth-in-line to the throne, after grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William, and older brother George.
“Many congratulations to the duke and duchess of Cambridge,” Prime Minister David Cameron said. “I’m delighted by the happy news that they’re expecting another baby.”
The 32-year-old duchess was experiencing morning sickness, or hyperemesis gravidarum, and was being treated by doctors at her home in Kensington Palace in central London.
She is expected to attend the opening of the Invictus Games, a sporting event for injured soldiers, on Wednesday and is also due to go on her first solo overseas tour to Malta in two weeks.
A spokesman said he could not yet confirm whether she would be able to attend.
“We will be planning this on a case by case basis – it’s too early to talk about Malta and Invictus,” he said.
Kate was only a few weeks pregnant when she was admitted to hospital in December 2012 for four days.
According to experts, hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes severe vomiting and dehydration and affects 3.5 per 1,000 pregnant women,is usually worse in subsequent pregnancies.
George celebrated his first birthday on July 22.
