
The Duchess of Cambridge spent the day with her mother as the world awoke to the news that she is expecting her third child, it was revealed today.

A delighted Prince Harry gave a thumbs up as he hailed the 'fantastic' announcement from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - who were forced to tell the world about the pregnancy early because Kate has again been struck down with severe morning sickness.

Kate's mother Carole Middleton was seen leaving Kensington Palace in a black Land Rover, where she had spent the day with her daughter, who is suffering with Hyperemesis Gravidarum.

The Duchess, 35, who is believed to be between eight and 12 weeks pregnant, battled chronic morning sickness during her first two pregnancies and was hospitalised when expecting George in 2012.

She is still ‘hopeful’ she will be able to take Prince George to his first day of school, sources have said.

But a decision will not be made until the time comes on Thursday morning as Kate battles her debilitating morning sickness.

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Kate's mother Carole Middleton was last night seen leaving Kensington Palace in a black Land Rover, where she had spent the day with her daughter

Prince Harry gave a thumbs up in Manchester yesterday and said it was 'fantastic' to be having another niece or nephew, adding his sister-in-law (right last week) was doing 'ok' despite feeling so poorly

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (pictured together last Wednesday) are expecting their third child, Kensington Palace has announced

The Duchess, 35, is believed to be between eight and 12 weeks pregnant and looked well last week, but had been forced to cancel a London engagement bringing forward her pregnancy announcement

This is the moment that Kate joked about having more children with William in July while in Poland and told him: 'We will just have to have more babies' after being given a Whisbear cuddly toy that soothes newborn babies

The Queen looked delighted at the news as she opened the new Queensferry Crossing spanning the Firth of Forth yesterday

Last week Kensington Palace announced that George, four, would arrive for his first day at Thomas’s Battersea primary school, in south-west London, with his parents for a brief photocall.

Both have made clear that they want to do the school run as much possible – even though it will take them up to 40 minutes each way from the palace.

But an aide told the Mail yesterday: ‘It’s an important day in a child’s life and like any mother she will do her utmost to be there. Unfortunately the Duchess won’t be able to make a decision until nearer the time, when she sees how she is feeling. If she can be there, she will.’

Yesterday she was forced to miss her planned engagement at the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London, and is being cared for at Kensington Palace.

Harry was the first royal to comment publicly and said he was 'very, very happy’ for his brother William and his wife, adding that his sister-in-law was 'okay'.

George, four, and Charlotte, two, will have a new sibling next April or May and the happy news was announced in a shock official statement, which said: 'Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child'.

Her Majesty the Queen said she was 'delighted' to have a sixth great-grandchild and the baby will be born fifth in line to the throne, bumping uncle Harry into sixth place.

The Prince was in Manchester speaking to veterans and their families living in houses created by the BBC's hit DIY SOS show, and in a comical moment local plasterer David Masterton congratulated the Prince on 'your kid having a baby', to which Harry replied: 'Thanks very much' with a broad grin on his face.

The race to guess the baby's name has already started with bookmakers saying Alice or Victoria are the clear favourites if it's a girl and Arthur or Albert are most likely of it's a boy.

In July Kate hinted at a third child on a royal tour of Poland with her family. She was given a Whisbear cuddly toy meant for a newborn and said to William, laughing: 'We will just have to have more babies'.

The Prince of Wales is first in line, followed by William, Prince George and the couple's daughter Princess Charlotte, who is two.

News of Kate's pregnancy began to leak out when photographers arriving early for her official engagement in London were told by staff that it had been unexpectedly cancelled at the last minute with no explanation. Hours later Kensington Palace confirmed rumours she was expecting again.

It's not known how far along in her third pregnancy the Duchess is, but while expecting Princess Charlotte she had to make the announcement prior to the crucial 12-week stage when severe morning sickness forced her to cancel engagements.

The condition led to her being hospitalised during her first pregnancy.

It is extremely unusual for the Duchess to cancel public engagements - she was pregnant and sick on the last few occasions.

Hyperemesis gravidarum is common, affecting around 15 per cent of all pregnancies. However in its extreme form - where a pregnant woman is admitted to hospital or suffers the condition throughout her pregnancy - it is much more rare.

It is much more serious than the nausea commonly experienced by expectant mothers.

The condition is thought to be caused by elevated levels of 'pregnancy hormone' HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, which increases after conception.

The happy news that George, four, and Charlotte, two, will have a new sibling next year came via Kensington Palace - who were forced to release the news because Kate has severe morning sickness again

Kate has made no secret of her desire to expand the family and is one of three children herself

Her Majesty was all smiles as she met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the Queensferry Crossing ahead of the grand reopening

Harry was in Manchester speaking to veterans and their families who are residents in houses created by the BBC television show, DIY SOS

Tell-tale gesture that might have given us a clue: Duchess of Cambridge wore a green dress and placed a protective hand on her stomach in photos taken a week before her pregnancies were announced The Duchess of Cambridge has never made any secret of the fact she would like to add to her family. Pictured: Kate puts a hand to her stomach at Kensington Palace with Wills last week Another bump, another green dress: Kate holds her belly while pregnant with Prince George in 2012 (left) and Princess Charlotte in 2014 (right) Showing Kate with a protective hand over a green dress, do these photographs reveal a tell-tale sign? For the colour of the Duchess of Cambridge’s dress and her pose aren’t the only thing the pictures have in common – she is also pregnant in all of them. As she was pictured in the Diana memorial garden at Kensington Palace last week, the duchess unwittingly mirrored the pose she had struck while pregnant with both Prince George and Princess Charlotte. About a week before the announcement at the end of 2012 that she and William were expecting their first child, the duchess was photographed at an event in the Natural History Museum in London wearing a bright green dress with her hand placed over her midriff. Then 18 months later, as she was pregnant with her daughter – but before the official announcement – Kate was at Wimbledon to watch the tennis, again making the gesture. On that occasion, the dress that she wore had a pattern of blue and green. Some have pointed to the fact that green is a colour that is said to represent fertility, growth and harmony. The duchess also appears to have altered her hairstyle each time, which some say is another recurring theme. For her first pregnancy she had a long cut with a fringe, but she then cropped her locks to shoulder-length for Charlotte. Yesterday’s news comes little over a month after she appeared in public with noticeably shorter hair. Advertisement

The couple have two children, Prince George, four, and two-year-old Princess Charlotte.

And the Duchess' uncle Gary Goldsmith has rushed to express his congratulations for the new arrival.

Gary said: 'It's the best news I've had so far this year. She's a natural mother. I wonder if she will stop at three? I doubt it. They are having such fun with the babies.'

The royal couple already have a live-in nanny to care for George and Charlotte and there is speculation that Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo could be joined by a second full-time nanny.

Kate has had both children at the exclusive Lindo Wing attached to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington and after two successful deliveries she is more than likely to return there in April or May.

William was born there in 1982 when his mother Diana gave birth for the first time.

Kate suffering with severe morning sickness that put her in hospital while pregnant with George Excessive nausea and vomiting during pregnancy is known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and often needs hospital treatment. Unlike regular morning sickness, HG may not get better by 14 weeks. It may not clear up completely until the baby is born, although some symptoms may improve at around 20 weeks. Some pregnant women are sick many times a day and are unable to keep food or drink down, which can have a negative effect on their daily life. Exactly how many pregnant women get HG is not known as some cases may go unreported, but it's thought to be around 1 in every 100. Signs and symptoms of HG include prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, dehydration and low blood pressure. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement

There was a 23-strong team working to help the Duchess give birth in 2013 and 2015.

Marcus Setchell delayed his retirement after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked him to oversee the birth of their first child, the third-in-line to the throne.

Jill Dando's fiance when she was murdered, Alan Farthing, 54, now the Surgeon Gynaecologist to the Royal Household after Mr Setchell finished work, is likely to deliver the royal couple's third child.

Kate has made no secret of her desire for a third child, confiding how broody she feels on several occasions.

She is one of three and had a happy home life with her sister, Pippa Matthews, and brother, James Middleton, and is close to both of her siblings.

By having more than two offspring, William and Kate are following in the footsteps of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who went on to have four children - although there was a gap of 10 years between their second child, Anne, and third, Andrew.

An age gap of less than two years between Prince George and Princess Charlotte gave Kate enough time to try for a third before she reached her late 30s, when women's fertility starts to decline more rapidly.

But William - who is one of two siblings - may have needed more convincing.

On an overseas tour to Singapore in 2012, when he was asked by a group of teenagers how many children he would like to have, he said he was 'thinking about having two'.

The couple are parents to Princess Charlotte and Prince George, (pictured in Poland in July) who is due to begin school at Thomas's in Battersea, south west London on Thursday

While in Poland the Duchess, 35, was seen at an event and held up a glass of wine, but barely drank it, witnesses said

Here is how the line of succession will look once the new royal baby is born - bumping Harry out of the top five

The couple talked openly of having a family when they announced their engagement and planned ahead by saving the top of their wedding cake - traditionally served at the christening of a first-born.

The news was announced as the royal couple were preparing to send their eldest child, Prince George, off to school for the first time on Thursday.

But she could miss the school start if she remains too unwell to leave Kensington Palace.

They have chosen a fee-paying independent school in a south London borough for their four-year-old son.

Thomas's Battersea will welcome the young prince and his parents on Thursday.

George's first day at school will also mark a new chapter for the Cambridges as they are now mainly based in their Kensington Palace apartment rather than their Norfolk home Anmer Hall.

William, who quit his job as a pilot for the East Anglian Air Ambulance in July to become a full-time royal, is also due to attend the National Mental Health and Policing Conference in Oxford on Tuesday.

The couple's third child will be born fifth in line to the throne, bumping uncle Harry out of the top five and into sixth place.

The Prince of Wales is first in line, followed by William, Prince George and the couple's daughter Princess Charlotte, who is two.

Kate had been due to visit the Hornsey Road Children's Centre in London to hear about the mental health impact of becoming a mother.

Clarence House said of heir to the throne Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall: 'They are delighted at the news.'

Kate was all smiles as she braved the London rain last Wednesday but is now feeling unwell

Kate, pictured left when she was eight months pregnant with Princess Charlotte, has been suffering from severe morning sickness - and fought it when she had her first two children

Kensington Palace visitors were delighted that Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, are expecting their third child.

A brief appearance of an ambulance made some concerned the Duchess was being taken to hospital but it later emerged a visitor had fallen ill in the gardens.

Caroline Hughes, 62, from Lancaster, said she heard about the announcement as she was travelling to visit the palace gardens with her husband.

She said: 'We literally heard the news just before we came and we're delighted for William and Kate.

'They're such a lovely couple, we always keep an eye on what they're doing, so to be visiting London makes it extra special.

'We'd heard she's suffering with bad morning sickness and obviously hope she's okay and wish her all the best.

'I remember last time when Charlotte was born she had the same thing.'

Alice Walsh, 41, from Dorking in Surrey, said: 'I'm delighted for them.

'George and Charlotte are adorable and it's so lovely they'll have another little brother or sister.

'The Royal Family are great for this country and Prince William and Kate are such good representatives, it means a lot to be here with the announcement being made.

'Who knows, in future we might also be hearing about baby number four, I think that would be wonderful.'

Royal gynaecologist Doctor Marcus Setchell (centre) delayed his retirement to deliver Prince George - he has been replaced by Alan Farthing (right), Jill Dando's former fiance, who helped deliver Charlotte and is likely to do the same for baby three with the help of Guy Thorpe-Beeston (left)

The royal couple already have a live-in nanny (left) to care for George and Charlotte and there is speculation that Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo (right with George in the window at Buckingham Palace) could be joined by a second full-time member of staff

First gorgeous George melted out hearts, then along came a perfect princess... now we just can't wait to meet Royal baby number three!

The nation rejoiced yesterday with the exciting news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be welcoming their third child.

With Kensington Palace confirming the upcoming royal birth, we look back at some of the happiest moments from the young royals' lives so far.

These pictures chart how Prince George has flourished from an adorable bundle tenderly held in his mother's arms to a caring big brother for little sister Charlotte.

And the highlights of perfect Princess Charlotte's life are remembered including her turn as a flower girl at Aunt Pippa's wedding.

A mother's delight: Kate's smile lights up the nation as she leaves hospital with Princess Charlotte in May 2015

Kate departs The Lindo Wing with George two years earlier. Now we have the thrilling news that baby No 3 is on the way

First gorgeous George melted our hearts...

Welcome to the world: This adorable bundle, wrapped in a woollen blanket and cradled in his mother's loving arms, is the day-old George as he is taken home to Kensington Palace by his parents on July 23, 2013

We're a family: A delightful informal photo taken by grandad Michael at the Middletons' home in Bucklebury, Berkshire

Proud dad: William holds George at his christening in London in October 2013

The playful Prince: George wins a legion of fans Down Under in April 2014 as he enjoys himself during his first official tour in New Zealand — and then gives his mum a cuddle

Here's looking at you, kid: Kate and William's dog Lupo gazes at adorable George in a portrait at Kensington Palace when he was eight months old

First steps: The toddler Prince masters the art of walking using his arms to steady himself

I'll take care of you: Kate snapped this tender moment at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, after Charlotte's birth in 2015

...then along came a perfect Princess

Pleased to meet you: The world gets its first glimpse of Charlotte outside St Mary’s Hospital, London, in May 2015

We couldn't be happier: The Duke and Duchess released this photo of their family at Kensington Palace, taken in late October 2015, to coincide with Christmas and the announcement that Prince George would start nursery that January

A girl just wants to have fun: Little Princess Charlotte is captured left - again by her talented photographer mother - squealing with delight as she plays with her teddy bear at Anmer Hall and, right, enjoying herself in the garden with a trolley full of coloured alphabet bricks

Snow Princess: A toothy smile and a little cold red nose on her first Alpine skiing holiday with dad William in March last year

There’s the photographers, Mum: Getting used to royal life on a tour of Canada last October

I’m two today: A faraway look in Charlotte’s eyes in this birthday portrait taken by Kate

Duty calls: Charlotte on parade as a flower girl at Aunt Pippa’s wedding in May this year

Double trouble: Charlotte, George and the royal party on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour in June

What fun we'll have with out little playmate!

And soon there will be three: George and Charlotte are looking forward to the new arrival

Was this the moment Kate hinted she was pregnant again? Laughing Duchess told William 'We'll just have to have more babies' during their royal tour of Poland seven weeks ago (and she barely touched her glass of wine)

The Duchess of Cambridge announced she is expecting her third child - two months after joking with Prince William that they will 'have to have more babies'.

The 35-year-old was on a royal tour of Poland when she was given a cuddly toy designed for newborns.

Saying thank you for receiving the toy created to help soothe babies, she turned to her husband and joked while laughing: 'We will just have to have more babies.'

The soft toys are designed by Whisbear and are supposed to comfort newborns by mirroring the sounds from the womb.

She speculated about having another child during a reception in Warsaw - just hours before she donned a dazzling ivory gown for a garden party in the Queen's honour.

Kate was on a royal tour of Poland when she was given a cuddly toy designed for newborns and joked with William about having a third

The Duchess, 35, was later handed a soft cuddly toy and joked to William that they need to 'have more babies'

The royal couple (pictured together) attended an event in Warsaw, Poland, in July and were shown a number of toys

Kate attended the event with her husband and was photographed barely touching her glass of wine.

Julia Sielicka-Jastrzebska, who founded the company with her sister, said Kate made the joke after learning the bears were designed for children younger than George, three and Charlotte, four.

She said: 'We gave the Duchess some presents for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. She said they should have more babies, and they laughed.'

Kensington Palace announced the royal couple are expecting their third child together.

The Duchess, who is believed to be between eight and 12 weeks pregnant, battled Hyperemesis Gravidarum during her first two pregnancies and was hospitalised when expecting George in 2012.

The royal couple attended the Queen's Birthday Garden Party in Warsaw and toasted the evening with a drink

'Have a break, have a kid Kate': The world reacts to news of a third royal baby with hilarious tweets - and point out football fan William's paternity leave could coincide with the World Cup

As the news broke that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child it was only a matter of moments before tributes flooded in.

Social media erupted with messages from royalists and well-wishers congratulating the couple on their pregnancy.

Kensington Palace took to Twitter to announce the news on Monday morning and the tweet has thus far received over 65,000 likes with the hashtag #RoyalBaby currently the top trending subject on Twitter.

Royal fans have taken to Twitter to share hilarious memes and tweets responding to the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child

Many remarked on the royal couple's ever growing brood, parodying the announcement with movie sequels

But on top of felicitations, it didn't take long for wise-cracking netizens to share their hilarious tweets in response to the news.

Several memes have already popped up in reaction to the announcement including one witty tweeter who shared 'have a break, have a kid Kate' parodying the famous KitKat slogan.

Elsewhere users couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic toward Prince Harry whose position as fifth in line to the throne has now been ousted to sixth.

Other fans were highly amused by one local paper's coverage of the news with Daily Post opting for the headline 'Former Anglesy helicopted pilot expecting third child'.

Many remarked on the couples ever-growing brood parodying the announcement with movie sequels with one Twitter user referring to the royal heir as 'Royal Baby: Tokyo Drift'.

"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child" pic.twitter.com/JMPVdRgKkd — Ed Brody (@chiefbrody1984) September 4, 2017

There were also puns a plenty with Amanda receiving more than 1,000 likes with her suggested nickname for William and his brood

Others were left surprised at some of the more local coverage of the pregnancy announcement

While the response to the news was overwhelmingly positive several netizens were not as enthralled by the news

Many netizens shared their sympathy for Prince Harry who has been pushed further down in the order of succession

Meanwhile several eagle eyed tweeters accused William of planning the pregnancy specifically for this time, pointing out that two weeks of his paternity leave will take place during the World Cup.

The happy news that George, four, and Charlotte, two, will have a new sibling next year came later via Kensington Palace, who said in a statement: 'Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child'.

The Queen, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and other members of both families are delighted with the news.

The child will be born fifth in line to the throne, bumping uncle Harry out of the top five and into sixth place.

'Delighted' Queen and Duke of Edinburgh open a new £1.35bn suspension bridge in Queensferry after royal baby announcement

The Queen has officially opened the UK's tallest bridge in a special ceremony, just hours after Kensington Palace announced the news of a new royal baby.

The monarch, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, cut a ribbon to signify the formal opening of the new Queensferry Crossing across the Firth of Forth.

Hundreds of people, mainly schoolchildren, cheered as the Queen cut the ribbon on the south side of the bridge after the royal couple met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, constructors' representatives and local officials.

The bridge was also blessed by Church of Scotland Moderator The Right Rev Dr Derek Browning.

Kensington Palace this morning announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a third child - adding that the Queen and other members of the royal family were 'delighted' at the news.

'Delighted': The Queen and Prince Philip, who visited Queensferry this morning, are said to be thrilled at the news of Kate and William's new arrival, expected next spring

The event to unveil the £1.35 billion crossing after six years of construction work is taking place exactly 53 years on from the day when the monarch opened the neighbouring Forth Road Bridge.

Philip, 96, bid farewell to his own royal jobs at Buckingham Palace at the start of August but officials stressed that he may still accompany the Queen at her events from time to time.

Speaking earlier about the ceremony, Ms Sturgeon said: 'Importantly, this celebratory event will recognise the thousands of people who have been involved in the construction of the new bridge.

'The Queensferry Crossing is a symbol of a confident, forward-looking Scotland and - as well as providing a vital transport connection for many years to come - it is a truly iconic structure and a feat of modern engineering.'

The Queen was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who is making his first official appearance alongside her since retiring from solo royal engagements last month

Déja vu: The event to unveil Britain's tallest bridge is taking place exactly 53 years on from the day the Queen opened the neighbouring Forth Road Bridge, on 4 September 1954

A right royal reception! Hundreds of people, mainly schoolchildren, cheered as the Queen cut the ribbon on the south side of the bridge after the royal couple met Nicola Sturgeon

The cutting of the ribbon took place on the south side of the bridge after the royal couple met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) and constructors' representatives

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaks with officials after arriving on the Queensferry Crossing for the official opening ceremony, where she was joined by the Queen

The formal ceremony is the high point in a week of events marking the opening of the bridge, more than a decade after plans for it were drawn up.

On Monday of last week the crossing was illuminated by a night-time light show to reflect the symbolic handover of the bridge from the contractors to the Scottish Government.

The first cars drove over the structure in the early hours of Wednesday, with many of the motorists sounding their horns and blowing whistles as they crossed.

Sightseers eager to try out the crossing when daylight came then contributed to long delays on its first day of operation.

Proud great-grandparents: The engagement came after the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a third child

What is the Duchess of Cambridge's condition? Kate suffers from extreme morning sickness that strikes just 1% of pregnant women and can be DEADLY

The rare pregnancy condition which the Duchess of Cambridge suffers from can be deadly, medical literature shows.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), which strikes just 1 per cent of pregnancies, is a complication that causes excessive nausea and vomiting.

Unlike regular morning sickness, it doesn't fade away with time. It is also considered to be the second leading cause of hospitalisation during pregnancy.

More than 1,000 abortions each year are linked to the severe pregnancy sickness - which can leave some women bedbound.

Hyperemesis Gravidarum is the medical terminology for excessive nausea and vomiting. The Duchess of Cambridge is a famous sufferer

The Duchess, 33, cancelled engagements last autumn as she battled HG

It may not clear up completely until the baby is born, although some symptoms may improve at around 20 weeks.

Some pregnant women are sick many times a day and are unable to keep food or drink down, which can have a negative effect on their daily life.

Many mothers-to-be may lose up to 10 per cent of their body weight when they are supposed to be gaining about 1lb a week.

This can trigger a build-up of toxins in the blood or urine known as ketosis as the body tries to compensate for lack of food.

Exactly how many pregnant women get HG is not known as some cases may go unreported, but it's thought to be around 1 in every 100.

Signs and symptoms of HG include prolonged and severe nausea and vomiting, dehydration, low blood pressure and rapid weight loss.

In 2012, while expecting Prince George, she was admitted to hospital when HG left her severely dehydrated (pictured with Princess Charlotte in May 2015)

Hospital treatment for these women is essential, as without intravenous feeding and fluids they are at risk of becoming dangerously dehydrated.

Until intravenous hydration was introduced in the 1950s, it was the leading cause of maternal death, Marlena Schoenberg Fejzo, a medicine researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, previously told The Conversation.

Could her extreme morning sickness mean Kate is going to have another girl? Last year, researchers found those with extreme morning sickness are slightly more likely to have girls. According to New Scientist, one theory is the Trivers-Willard hypothesis which suggests when there is a lack of nausea it could be a son. However, in tough times, a daughter is safer for a mother to pass on her genes to as weaker males are less likely to succeed. Given a third of pregnancies with HG result in miscarriage, this could help to explain why fewer boys are born to women with the condition, the study said. Advertisement

But she warned that the condition is neither well-understood nor well-known, even with the 'flurry of headlines' after it was announced Kate was struck down by it.

The condition can also affect the baby's development and there is a risk it will be premature or have a very low birth weight.

In severe cases, the sickness can trigger a miscarriage. It can also cause an abnormally fast heart rate in the mother, medical literature states.

The condition is thought to be caused by elevated levels of 'pregnancy hormone' HCG, or human chorionic gonadotropin, which increases after conception.

There is no cure but one of the most effective treatments is the drug Ondansetron, which is taken twice a day at a cost of £3.50 per pill.

Caitlin Dean, chairman of Pregnancy Sickness Support, previously said: 'The severity of the condition should not be underestimated and the risks and complications of not treating it need to be appreciated.'

The Duchess, 33, cancelled engagements last autumn as she battled HG. And in 2012, while expecting Prince George, she was admitted to hospital when HG left her severely dehydrated.

Duchess of Cambridge's third pregnancy means a sibling for George and Charlotte is set to arrive in late April – but what will the newest family member be called?

The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her third child, a sibling for Prince George and Princess Charlotte - but when will the latest family member arrive?

While most parents don't announced the happy news until the crucial 12-week stage, the Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum, or severe morning sickness, a condition that is usually detected around the six-week mark.

When pregnant with Princess Charlotte, Kate had to announce the news early after the condition forced her to pull out of planned engagements and yesterday's announcement from Kensington Palace came as she cancelled a planned visit to a children's charity in London this afternoon.

Presuming Kate is around six to eight weeks pregnant' the new arrival can be expected in late April or early the following month, around the time of Princess Charlotte's birthday on May 2.

The Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant with her third child, Kensington Palace has announced (pictured on her wedding day on April 29, 2011)

The couple will also be busy considering baby names in the next months, with Alice and Victoria the most popular choices for a girl and Arthur and Alexander the favourites for a boy.

Bookies Ladbrokes are already taking bets on the new arrival, making it even money George and Charlotte are joined by a sister, and the same price is on offer for a brother.

If it's a girl, Alice is the favourite name while Arthur tops the charts for a boy.

It's likely the couple will choose a name with some kind of royal significance.

But as the new baby will be fifth in line to the throne there's no pressure to name them after a past monarch like big brother and future king, Prince George.

New royal baby will see Prince Harry pushed down to sixth in line to the throne... but law change means Princess Charlotte will stay as fourth even if Kate has a boy

The birth of Duchess of Cambridge's third baby will mean that Prince Harry will become sixth in line to the throne, while Princess Charlotte will remain fourth in line.

The current order of succession is Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, followed by Charlotte and Harry.

A law change in 2013 before the birth of George means that male members of the royal family no longer overtake their sisters in the line of succession.

This means that Charlotte will remain as fourth in line to the throne, regardless of whether the new baby is a boy or a girl.

The Duchess of Cambridge's third baby will mean that Prince William will become sixth in line to the throne

However, Charlotte will remain in fourth in line to the throne, regardless of whether the new baby is a boy or a girl

The Royal Succession bill was rushed through Parliament following the announcement that Kate was pregnant with her first child in 2012.

The law change was made to ensure that William and Kate's first child could succeed to the throne, regardless if the baby was a boy or a girl.

How new succession law means boys no longer get bumped up the list over girls The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 altered the laws of succession. It replaced male-preference to allow the eldest child, regardless of gender, to precede their siblings. The act also ended the disqualification of a person who married a Roman Catholic from the line of succession, and removed the requirement of those outside the first six persons in line to the throne to seek the Sovereign's approval to marry. It was brought in accordance with the 2011 Perth Agreement - made by the prime ministers of the 16 Commonwealth realms. Advertisement

The Succession to the Crown Act 2013 was brought in accordance with the 2011 Perth Agreement, which was signed off by prime ministers of the 16 Commonwealth realms.

The act also ended the disqualification of a person who married a Roman Catholic from the line of succession, and removed the need for those outside the first six persons in line to the throne to seek the monarch's approval to marry.

There had been fears there could be a constitutional crisis if Kate and William had a baby girl before the law was changed.

But the Queen approved the historic change by giving royal assent to the Succession to the Crown Act in April 2013, before the birth of George in July.

Under the ancient rules of male primogeniture, first born royal daughters in direct line to the throne were overtaken by younger male siblings.

However, the law was widely criticised and viewed as outdated and discriminatory.

The scrapped law of male primogeniture only allowed Elizabeth II to become Queen because she did not have any brothers.

The change in succession rules is not retrospective, so the Princess Anne did not jump ahead of her younger brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

After Harry in the line of succession is Andrew, followed by his daughters princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Business as usual! Prince Harry is all smiles as he arrives in Manchester for a day of engagements - as it's revealed the new royal baby will oust him as fifth in line to the throne

This morning's announcement of a third baby for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has pushed Harry out of the top five in the line of succession, making him sixth in line to the throne.

But it was business as usual for the Prince this morning, who looked in great spirits as he arrived in Manchester for a day of engagements.

The visit begins with a return to Canada Street in Newton Heath, which he visited two years ago as part of the BBC's DIY SOS project, to redevelop derelict homes for ex-service personnel.

Harry (pictured in Manchester) said the news of a new baby was: 'Fantastic. Great' and when asked how Kate was, he said: 'I haven't seen her for a while but I think she's OK'

Prince Harry arriving for a visit to Canada Street in Manchester, which underwent a DIY SOS transformation in 2015

Prince Harry was visiting Manchester to see health workers helping those affected by the terror attack on the city.

Harry will visit the NHS Manchester Resilience Hub, set up as a dedicated mental health service for those affected by the suicide bombing of Manchester Arena on May 22 which left 22 dead and scores injured.

Later he will travel across the city to Manchester City Football Club to drop in on a training session with local schoolchildren given by apprentice sports coaches.

His last engagement will be to attend a reception hosted by the Rugby Football League (RFL), where he will meet members of the England squad, as well as coaches such as Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Peacock, Denis Betts and Paul Sculthorpe along with support staff as they prepare for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this autumn.

The royal is set to be pushed down to sixth in line to the throne following the arrival of Kate and William's third child