Human Interest
Royal baby: Prince William and Kate expecting second child─── 13:23 Mon, 08 Sep 2014
London - The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her second child.
Kensington Palace said the Queen and members of both families were delighted with the news.
The palace said that - as when she was pregnant with Prince George - the duchess was suffering from very acute morning sickness and was being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace.
The baby will become fourth in line to the throne, moving Prince Harry further down the line of succession.
Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and the Archbishop of Canterbury were among those to offer their congratulations to the couple.
BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the Duchess of Cambridge's morning sickness meant the announcement had had to be made before the 12th week of her pregnancy.
Our correspondent added that this pregnancy was likely to generate excitement but was lacking the constitutional significance of Prince George's birth - as things stand the unborn boy or girl is not destined to be monarch.
Her first pregnancy was revealed when the duchess was just a few weeks pregnant after she was admitted to hospital suffering from severe morning sickness in December 2012.
Unlike when she was pregnant with George, this time the duchess is being treated at Kensington Palace and not at a hospital.
The sickness - called hyperemesis gravidarum - is a condition that may require supplementary hydration, medication and nutrients.
It affects 3.5 per 1,000 pregnancies, causes severe vomiting and can lead to dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine, called ketosis.
Overseas tour Catherine had been due to join Prince William in formally opening a £21m China study centre at Oxford University but the palace said her morning sickness meant that she would no longer be attending.
Kensington Palace said the duchess's attendance at future events would be decided on a "case-by-case" basis.
She is scheduled to be among the guests at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in London on Wednesday evening along with Prince William, Prince Harry and the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall.
On Thursday she is due to attend a Drumhead service at Lee Valley Athletics Centre with William and Harry, and later with William to watch Invictus competitors taking part in matches and heats.
The duchess is due to make her first official solo overseas tour, to Malta for two days, from 20 September.
'Big brother' The baby announcement came two months after the couple's first child, Prince George, had his first birthday.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: "Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby."
Mr Miliband said: "Fantastic to hear that Prince George will soon be a big brother. Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their happy news."
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the pregnancy was "fantastic news".
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond 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."
The duchess is known as the Countess of Strathearn in Scotland.
BBC News
