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Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine are expecting a baby, destined to be the country's future monarch, the prince's office said on Monday.

The former Kate Middleton, 30, is in King Edward VII Hospital in central London, suffering from severe morning sickness, and she is likely to remain there for several days, St James' Palace announced in a statement.

William, who is the son of the late Princess Diana and heir to the throne Prince Charles, was by his wife's side in the hospital, the palace said.

Catherine was reportedly still at the "very early stages" of pregnancy - she is believed to be at less than 12 weeks - but it is thought the news was released because her admission to hospital would have made her condition public.

She has an acute form of morning sickness that affects 3.5 in every1,000 pregnant women. Although it should not harm the baby if treated correctly, the condition can be highly unpleasant for the mother.

The statement also said that Catherine's condition required supplementary hydration and nutrients.

The pregnancy will add to resurgent support for the monarchy following the pomp of William and Catherine's wedding last year and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations to mark Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne in June.

The marriage of the couple, officially known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, in April 2011 prompted a global media frenzy, and there has been much speculation, particularly in gossip magazines in the United States, about a possible pregnancy.

The news flashed around the world on Twitter with the hashtag "Royalbaby" and crashed the couple's official website.

There was no detail about when the baby is due.

William and Catherine currently live in north Wales, where the prince is based as a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot.

Catherine, a "commoner" whose parents are self-made millionaires from a party supplies business, met William at St Andrews University in Scotland in 2001.

Speculation about a royal pregnancy intensified on Nov 28 when the couple was given a baby's romper suit during their first visit together to Cambridge, the historic English university city that is home to their dukedom.

William laughed and said, "I'll keep that," after accepting the tiny hand-stitched outfit with the words "Daddy's little co-pilot."

Queen Elizabeth II, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Charles's wife Camilla, William's brother Prince Harry "and members of both families are delighted with the news," the palace said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that the royal couple will make "wonderful parents," adding, "People round the country will be celebrating with them tonight."

William's uncle Earl Charles Spencer - the brother of Diana who won praise for his emotional eulogy at her funeral after she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - said he was "thrilled for them both."

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, who met the royal couple during a state visit to Britain last year, sent their congratulations on hearing the "welcome news," the White House said.

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）

About the broadcaster:

Nelly Min is an editor at China Daily with more than 10 years of experience as a newspaper editor and photographer. She has worked at major newspapers in the U.S., including the Los Angeles Times and the Detroit Free Press. She is also fluent in Korean.