The baby will be fourth-in-line to the British throne, following
elder brother George, the couple's first child who was born in
July last year, his father William and grandfather Prince
Charles.
"The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the
news that their royal highnesses are expecting their second
child," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
There was no detail of when the baby was due.
William's office said Kate, 32, was suffering from Hyperemesis
Gravidarum, an acute morning sickness which causes severe nausea
and vomiting and requires supplementary hydration and nutrients,
a condition that required hospital treatment in the early months
of pregnancy with her first child.
George was born in July last year amid a huge international
media frenzy, underlying the mass global popularity of the young
British royals. Since his birth, George has graced the cover of
Vanity Fair and his few public appearances had garnered huge
media attention.
There had been huge speculation this year that William, 32, and
Kate, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
since their marriage in April 2011, would announce a pregnancy.
"Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm
delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another
baby," British Prime Minister David Cameron said on his Twitter
feed.
Last month William announced that he was to start work as an air
ambulance pilot next year based at Cambridge and Norwich in
eastern England.
(Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Kate Holton and Dominic
Evans)
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