ABC News - Kate Middleton is pregnant.
The most eagerly awaited pregnancy was announced Monday by St. James Palace on
behalf of Middleton and her husband Prince William.
The child, whether boy or girl, will eventually be heir to the British throne
according to new legislation awaiting final approval.
The duchess was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital today in central London
with hyperemesis gravidarum, an acute morning sickness which requires
supplementary hydration and nutrients, the palace said.
"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected
to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest
thereafter," the statement said.
The royal family was clearly delighted with the news.
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to
announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby," the palace said in
a statement today. "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The
Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted
with the news."
The baby will be the queen's third great-grandchild.
Robert Lacey, author of the definitive book "Majesty" said, "The British
public and indeed the whole world will be delighted for the same, it keeps the
monarchy going. The royal wedding brought a magic back to the monarchy and
people are fascinated by William and Catherine."
The announcement follows relentless public and media speculation about when
Prince William and his wife would have an heir. The guessing game began almost
immediately after the couple said, "I do."
Tabloids began snapping close-ups of Middleton's stomach for any indication
of a baby bump. Baby rumors abounded when the duchess held a baby at a press
event and when she declined peanut butter at another event. British physicians
are known to warn women against eating peanuts during pregnancy. When the couple
got a dog, Lupo, headlines wondered if they were practicing for another addition
to the family.
The palace, which rarely comments on speculation, took the unusual step of
saying, "We would be the ones to make the announcement, not Hollywood."
"It is quite strange reading about it, but I try not to let it bother me,"
Prince William said in an interview with ABC News' Katie Couric in May 2012.
"I'm just very keen to have a family and both Catherine and I are looking
forward to having a family in the future."
Asked by Couric if there was anything else he wanted to share, he coyly
answered, "You won't get anything out of me. Tight lipped."
Due to a dramatic change in the rules of succession, the royal couple's
first-born will likely be the heir to the throne, regardless of the baby's
gender.
Last year, the heads of 16 Commonwealth countries agreed to a change in the
rules of succession so that first-born children of either gender can take the
throne. Queen Elizabeth II was only eligible to be monarch because her father
had no male children. The British Parliament must still amend existing law to
make the succession change official.
"Put simply, if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl,
that girl would one day be our queen," British Prime Minister David Cameron told
reporters in 2011.
Royal babies have typically been born within one year of marriage. Princess
Diana gave birth to William just 11 months after her wedding and the queen gave
birth to Prince Charles six days before her first wedding anniversary.
Prince William and Kate were married on April 29, 2011.
William, who has long been known for making privacy a priority, will now be
faced with the inevitable fascination with his first child. And the scrutiny
will doubtless be familiar to him.
From his infant trip to Australia with his mother to his graduation from St.
Andrews University, William's life was filled with photo ops.
"We have a paradox here. William loathes the press and exposure to the
publicity. On the other hand, Diana exposed both sons at an early age. They are
immensely assured young men," Lacey said. "While he may want to keep his
children out the limelight, as a modern monarch he knows he has to deal with the
media."
Now, the name guessing game begins.
"They'll stick to traditional names," Lacey predicts. "William has a great
sense of history from working with his grandmother. The queen would have him
over for tea to teach him about history and the workings of the monarchy."
It's typical for royals to have three or four names. Prince William's full
name is William Arthur Philip Louis.
"If it's a girl it's not likely to be called Diana," Lacey said. "But you're
very likely to see Diana in one of the middle names. You might very likely get
Elizabeth Diana something. It shows the bravery with which he's kept his
mother's memory alive, right down to the ring on Kate's finger."
Courtesy: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images
