Kate and William: Duchess
pregnant, palace says
The royal baby will be born third in line and in direct succession to the throne
The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby, St James's Palace has announced.
Members of the Royal Family and the duchess's family, the Middletons, are said to be delighted.
A spokesman said the duchess, who is thought to be less than 12 weeks pregnant, has been admitted to a London hospital with acute morning sickness and is likely to stay for several days.
He or she will one day be head of the armed forces, supreme governor of the Church of England and subsequently head of state of 16 Commonwealth countries.
Catherine and William, who are both 30, were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
Royal officials said William was with his wife at the King Edward VII hospital.
BBC's royal correspondent Peter Hunt said William and Kate were staying at her parents in Berkshire at the weekend and travelled to the private London hospital from there by car.
The duchess was last seen in public on Friday when she visited her old school, St Andrew's, in Pangbourne in Berkshire.
In a statement, St James's Palace said: "Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby.
"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."
It said the duchess was being treated in hospital after suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, which requires supplementary hydration and nutrients.
"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," it added.
St James's Palace refused to be drawn on when the royal couple became aware of the pregnancy, only saying "recently".
Daghni Rajasingham, a consultant obstetrician who speaks for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "In a very small number of women the sickness will continue throughout the pregnancy.
"It will mean that the patient may need to be re-admitted throughout their pregnancy... but in terms of any particular complications, if it's treated well and they're kept well hydrated it's something that is relatively easy and well treated."
Severe morning sickness
It is not uncommon for pregnant women to experience morning sickness, particularly during the first few months of pregnancy.But some women (around one in every 200) experience severe nausea and vomiting, which continues throughout pregnancy.
This condition is known as hyperemesis gravidarum or HG and needs specialist treatment and often requires a stay in hospital.
The main danger is dehydration - it can be difficult to keep enough fluid down orally.
Doctors can treat HG with medication to help ease the nausea.
HG is unlikely to cause harm to your baby. However, if it causes weight loss during pregnancy there is an increased risk that your baby may be born with a low birth weight.
'Wonderful parents'
Asked about having children in an interview after their engagement in November 2010, William said: "I think we'll take it one step at a time. We'll get over the marriage thing first and then maybe look at the kids, but obviously we want a family."
A spokesman for the Royal Air Force (RAF), with which William serves as a search-and-rescue pilot, said: "The RAF is delighted with the news and wishes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all the best for the future."
Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that he was "delighted by the news", adding: "They will make wonderful parents."
Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted: "Fantastic news for Kate, William and the country. A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate."
Royal historian Hugo Vickers said: "It's fantastic that there is another generation of the House of Windsor coming along in the reign of the present Queen so she will see a great-grandchild who will one day sit on the throne.
"We will be watching this baby from the moment it's born, and if we all live long enough until the moment it becomes king or queen. And that's the great advantage, I think, of hereditary monarchy."
The Duchess was last seen in public on 30 November
Royal journalist Ingrid Seward said the royal pair were likely to have wanted to start a family "sooner rather than later", but delayed so that that could play their part in honouring the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
She told the BBC: "Kate will be 31 in January and I think by royal standards that is relatively old. [Princess] Diana was pregnant with Prince William very very quickly, as was Princess Margaret.
"It is inclined to happen sooner rather than later in a royal marriage."
In October 2011, Commonwealth leaders agreed to change succession laws so that the daughter of any any future UK monarch will have equal right to the throne as a son.
The law has not been formally been changed but ministers have indicated that the legislation will be changed and apply to any royal births from the date of the leaders' decision.
A Cabinet Office spokesman says formal consent is expected "very shortly". The process is being co-ordinated by the New Zealand government and once consent has been given the Westminster government will bring forward a bill to change the law.
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