Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expecting first child

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first-born child, St James’s Palace announced yesterday, ending months of speculation about a royal pregnancy.

The announcement also revealed the Duchess is being treated for very acute morning sickness, hyperemesis gravidarum, at a private London hospital.

The Duke was by her side after she was admitted to the King Edward VII Hospital yesterday, where she is expected to remain for a few days.

Prime Minister David Cameron led the congratulations when he said: “It’s absolutely wonderful news and I’m delighted for them.

“I’m sure they will make absolutely brilliant parents, and I’m sure everyone around the country will be celebrating with them tonight.”

Babies were the topic of conversation when William and Kate visited Cambridge last week for the first time as a married couple.

The Duke, an RAF search and rescue pilot, was given a baby suit made by Samantha Hill, 27, from Suffolk, which was decorated with a picture of a helicopter and the words “Daddy’s little co-pilot”.

The baby theme continued when Kate met Tessa Davies, 35, from Cambridge, who had given her five-month-old son James the middle name William in honour of the Duke and had brought him to meet the royal couple.

St James’s Palace would not say when the couple became aware of the pregnancy, but confirmed it was “recently”.

It is understood that the pregnancy has not passed the 12-week point and the announcement was prompted by the Duchess’s medical condition.

For women with hyperemesis gravidarum, vomiting can be so severe that they cannot keep food or liquid down.

St James’s Palace said in its statement yesterday: “The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news.”

Zanib Asghar