Prince William said Monday that he and his wife Kate, duchess of Cambridge, were “thrilled” that she was pregnant with their second child, but that she had had a “tricky few days” suffering from morning sickness.
“She's feeling OK, thanks,” he told reporters as he opened a new China Centre at Oxford University. “It's been a tricky few days - week or so -but obviously we're basically thrilled, it's great news, and early days.”
It is understood that the 32-year-old duchess is not yet 12 weeks pregnant and that the decision to announce the pregnancy was forced by her having to cancel her own attendance in Oxford.
A royal spokesman said that she was being treated by doctors at her home in Kensington Palace, central London, for severe morning sickness.
The new baby will be fourth-in-line to the throne, after grandfather Prince Charles, father Prince William, and older brother Prince George.
Queen Elizabeth II and other members of Britain's royal family were “delighted” with the news, while Prime Minister David Cameron also offered his congratulations.
William's younger brother Prince Harry said it was “very exciting news”, adding: “George will be over the moon, he'll be thrilled, having another smaller, younger brother or sister.”
Speaking to reporters he joked that “I can't wait to see my brother suffer more,” after the arrival of the baby, and that if it is a girl, “I would love to see him try and cope with that”.
He added that Kate was “pretty poorly” and that “luckily I'm not a woman so I don't have to go through that.”
When it was pointed out to him that the new arrival would push him further down the line of succession he laughed and said, “Great!”.
Kate is scheduled 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.
But a spokesman said he could not yet confirm whether she would be well enough 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.
The duchess was only a few weeks pregnant when she was admitted to hospital in December 2012 for four days when pregnant with George, suffering from the same condition and forcing an early announcement of the pregnancy.
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.
Monday's news came just two months after George celebrated his first birthday, on July 22. - Sapa-dpa