Kate Middleton pregnant and ill in hospital
Kate Middleton and Prince William have ended months of intense speculation by announcing they are expecting their first child, but were forced to share their news earlier than hoped because of the Duchess of Cambridge’s admission to hospital yesterday.
News that the duchess is in the “very early stages” of pregnancy with the third in line to the throne was officially released after she was taken to the King Edward VII hospital in central London, suffering from hyperemesis gravidarun, very acute morning sickness.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and other members of the royal family were only told about the pregnancy yesterday.
As the news dominated media outlets around the world and congratulation messages flooded in, the duchess was expected to remain in hospital for several days.
It is understood she is less than 12 weeks pregnant, but officials were forced to go public because of fears her hospitalisation would fuel concerns over her health.
She was staying at her parents’ home in Bucklebury, Berkshire when she became unwell. She was driven to the hospital by private car and not ambulance yesterday afternoon. Prince William, who was also staying at his in-laws’ home over the weekend, is understood to have driven his wife to hospital himself and was by her bedside yesterday evening.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is a rare condition causing severe vomiting during pregnancy, which can cause dehydration, weight loss and a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine. It requires supplementary hydration and nutrients and affects about 3.5 out of 1,000 pregnant women. Members of both families were said to be delighted at news that the couple are to be parents.
It will be the queen’s third great-grandchild, but it is the first time in almost 120 years that a serving monarch will experience the birth of a greatgrandchild in direct succession to the throne.
It will be a first grandchild for Prince Charles, and also for the duchess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. The proposed radical shakeup to the monarchy’s rules of succession means this latest member of the royal family will, regardless of gender, push its uncle Prince Harry down to fourth place.
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Post time 30-11-2012 04:03 PM
