Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate are expecting their third child, their office said on Monday after the Duchess was forced to cancel an engagement due to severe morning sickness.
Britain’s monarchy has ridden a wave of public support in recent years due to the popularity of William, Kate, and William’s brother Harry, and the news was soon making headlines around the world.
Queen Elizabeth, who is 91, said she was delighted.
The baby will be fifth in line to the British throne, after grandfather Prince Charles, father William and elder siblings George, 4, and Charlotte, 2.
The popular Harry becomes sixth in line to the throne.
“Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child,” Kensington Palace said.
“The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.”
The couple did not say when the baby was due.
Kate and William married in a lavish ceremony in 2011 watched by about two billion people around the world. Two years later the international camera crews and photographers camped outside a London hospital to record the birth of George, and returned two years later for his sister Charlotte.
George and Charlotte have since appeared on the front covers of magazines around the world and travelled on official royal tours of Poland and Germany with their parents. George will attend his first day of primary school later this week.
“This is fantastic news,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said. “Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.”
William and Harry have been in the headlines in recent weeks as they led the efforts to remember their mother Princess Diana who died in a car crash in Paris 20 years ago last Thursday.
In a sign of how the young royals have helped to modernize the House of Windsor, the princes have spoken about the trauma of her death and its lasting emotional impact.
Harry was in Manchester visiting a center supporting people affected by a bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in May when he gave his reaction. “Fantastic, great, very very happy for them,” he said.
