Pregnant Kate is ‘getting better’: Wills smiles with relief as he and Duchess say they are ‘immensely grateful’ for good wishes 
 
 
 
 Duchess is 'continuing to feel better' but will stay in hospital for treatment 
 
 Kate and William issue statement thanking public for all their support 
 
 William spends hours at bedside before leaving her in care of top doctors 
 
 
 
 Alan Farthing and Marcus Setchell are helping Kate through pregnancy 
 
 
 
 Prince William visits wife in King Edward VII Hospital for second time 
 
 
 
 Royal couple 'reassured condition not dangerous for mother or baby' 
 
 Clarence House: 'Catherine needs rest and will stay in for several days' 
 
 The Duchess of Cambridge is 'feeling better' after spending a second day in hospital with acute morning sickness, St James's Palace said tonight. 
 
 
 
 Prince William smiled with relief as he left his pregnant wife in the care of two top royal doctors and issued a statement saying Kate is 'continuing to feel better'. Sources said the Duchess, 30, is responding well to treatment. 
 
 
 
 The couple also said they are 'immensely grateful for the good wishes they have received' as the Duke left the King Edward VII hospital in clear good spirits af ter spending hours at his wife's bedside. 
 
 
 
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 Good spirits: Prince William looked happy as he left the King Edward VII hospital 
 
 Prince William is pictured getting into a car leaving the hospital as he and his wife issued a statement saying they were grateful for the good wishes 
 
 A St. James's Palace spokesman said tonight: ' The Duchess of Cambridge is continuing to feel better. 
 
 
 
 'She and the Duke are immensely grateful for the good wishes they have received. 
 
 
 
 'She will remain in hospital at present and will continue to be treated for Hyperemesis Gravidarum.' 
 
 Kate, 30, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, has been on a drip to restore lost nutrients since being driven to the King Edward VII Hospital in central London by her husband yesterday. 
 
 MailOnline sources today confirmed the Duchess is bearing up well - but her symptoms of severe vomiting may last for much of her pregnancy. 
 
 She is likely to be taking anti-sickness tablets after developing the rare illness hyperemesis gravidarum that affects one in 50 women. 
 
 Prince William leaving the hospital looking relieved, left, in contrast to him arriving at the hospital this morning looking worried, right 
 
 
 
 Earlier today the Duke had arrived looking hunched and tense with his head bowed as his wife spent a second day in hospital. 
 
 Clarence House told MailOnline that Kate is still expected to spend the next few days in hospital, and requires a 'period of rest' to recover from the rare illness that has left her weak and tired. 
 
 Today the two royal gynaecologists treating Kate were seen going to the hospital where she is being cared for. 
 
 Consultant Alan Farthing, who was Jill Dando’s fiancé, is overseeing the birth and Marcus Setchell, who spent two decades as the Queen’s surgeon, is also helping Kate through her illness. 
 
 Kate's mother Carole Middleton is also planning to visit and smiled as she left the family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, earlier today. 
 
 
 
 Mrs Middleton drove a black Range Rover away from the manor house, leaving at around 5.20pm. 
 
 
 
 The duchess, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, fell ill with hyperemesis gravidarum, which makes it almost impossible to eat or drink, at her parents' home this weekend. 
 
 VIDEO: William leaves the hospital after spending the day with Kate 
 
 
 
 
 
 Smiling: Looking much happier than he did yesterday morning, the Prince is driven away last night as his wife spends her second night in hospital, but is said to be feeling better 
 
 Worried William: The Duke of Cambridge arriving at the King Edward VII Hospital in central London yesterday at 11:30am to visit his wife Kate for the second time 
 
 Going inside: Prince William walked straight into the building without looking round and his look of concern was captured in the mirrored name plate of the King Edward VII hospital (right) as he walked in to comfort his wife 
 
 
 
 Back to comfort Kate: Prince William stepped out of a Land Rover this morning to visit the Duchess of Cambridge, who was immediately put on a drip after arriving yesterday to stop her becoming dehydrated Helping out: Kate, 30, is being cared for while she suffers from acute morning sickness by the Queen's former gynaecologist Marcus Setchell, 69, (left) while Alan Farthing, 47, (right) is set to oversee the pregnancy itself 
 
 Expectant mother: Kate (pictured at the Natural History Museum in London last week), was driven to the hospital yesterday by Prince William The Duke and Duchess did not want to make the pregnancy announcement until Christmas but were forced to make a statement because of Kate's hospital admission. The Queen had not been told until yesterday. Despite the concerns over Kate's health, her mother and father appeared relaxed and happy today as they drove to and from the family’s £4.85million country mansion. Her father Michael, in a dark hunting jacket, smiled as he drove onto the family estate in his dark Range Rover at around 10.20am. Soon after at 10.40am, a smiling Carole Middleton, dressed in a brown jacket and furry scarf, drove away in another dark Range Rover. She returned home at 4.15pm but made no comment on either occasion. Less than an hour later, at 11.30am, Prince William pulled up outside the private hospital in central London in a green Land Rover and walked quickly inside to Kate's bedside. Mr and Mrs Middleton are said to be 'elated' at pregnancy - and Kate's sister Pippa, who lives not far from the hospital in Fulham, south-west London, is due to visit soon. A Clarence House spokesman said today: ‘The situation is the same as yesterday - we said she would stay in for several days and that is still the case. 
 
 'It’s a period of rest that she needs, so she will stay in for several days.’ He would not comment on Kate’s condition this morning. She is likely to be taking anti-sickness tablets and to have a drip in her arm so she can receive fluids intravenously. But her symptoms of severe vomiting may last for much of her pregnancy. 
 
 The pregnancy marked a day of intense joy for the nation, although the excitement was tinged with anxiety. 
 
 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been hoping to keep the news they were expecting a baby to themselves until Christmas Day. 
 
 But with Kate admitted to King Edward VII Hospital yesterday with the illness , they had little choice but to make the announcement. A royal source said the couple and their families are concerned about Kate's illness, but have been 'reassured' it is not a dangerous condition for either the the Duchess or her baby. The couple delighted millions around the world – including their own families – with the happy news. 
 
 Delighted but nervous: Carole (left) and Michael Middleton (right) are said to be elated at their daughter's pregnancy and were today pictured separately outside their home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. They are expected to visit Kate at the King Edward VII hospital in central London 
 
 Outside: Members of the media gather as a policeman stands guard at King Edward VII Hospital in London Looking fine: Kate (right) showed no sign of sickness when eating a ginger biscuit during a visit to Cambridge last week with Prince William (left). The biscuits are known as a common remedy for morning sickness But as the word spread, the parents-to-be were together in hospital, facing the first hurdle in a much longed for pregnancy. Kate, 30, who is barely eight weeks pregnant, was taken to the hospital just after lunch by her husband and immediately put on a drip to stop her becoming dehydrated. Last night she appeared to be responding well to treatment. Sources said there was ‘no cause for alarm’. Impersonator: A man wearing a Prince William mask walks past the King Edward VII hospital in London yesterday 
 
 Tense: Prince William left his wife Kate's bedside at about 8.15pm last night. He drove Kate to King Edward VII hospital yesterday after she fell ill with acute morning sickness 
 
 Doting husband: Wearing a grey jumper and shirt, the Prince leaves the hospital last night 
 
 Family joy: Princess Anne, who presented Afghanistan Operational Service Medals to Soldiers from The King's Royal Hussars at Aliwal Barracks in Tidworth yesterday, is said to be delighted at the news 
 
 However, doctors at the King Edward VII Hospital have taken the precautionary step of keeping her in for the next few days. 
 
 It had been a nerve-racking day for Prince William. Last night, wearing a grey jumper and blue shirt, he left the hospital in Marylebone but said nothing to the dozens of camera crews and photographers outside. 
 
 
 
 He was then taken back to Kensington Palace by three royal protection officers in a green Land Rover. 
 
 Pregnant: The Duchess of Cambridge visited her 'adored' prep school St Andrews last week and even played hockey in high heels despite being pregnant 
 
 Watching on: The waiting media outside King Edward VII Hospital in central London where the Duchess of Cambridge has been admitted following the announcement that she is expecting a baby 
 
 The announcement has gained the attention of the world's media, who are stood outside the hospital in anticipation 
 
 The press, photographers and members of the public gathered last night outside the hospital 
 
 An entrance to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London was guarded by police last night 
 
 Speculation: Rumours abounded in September that the Duchess might have been expecting when the royal couple visited Singapore as part of an official tour and chinked glasses of iced water at a gala reception 
 
 
 
 The Duke had been at his wife’s side for most of the day. Royal sources confirmed he would be visiting today. 
 
 ACUTE MORNING SICKNESS AFFECTS 2% OF PREGNANT WOMEN Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare condition believed to affect up to two per cent of women in pregnancy and is a severe form of morning sickness. It tends to be more common in young mothers, women who are in their first pregnancy, and those with multiple pregnancies. Women with HG often lose weight - usually over 10 per cent of their body weight - and feel tired and dizzy. They may also find they are passing water less often than usual, and the main risk is dehydration which can lead to headache, palpitations and confusion. There is also a risk of nutritional deficiencies. Then symptoms are severe, admission to hospital may be needed for observation and to treat dehydration with intravenous fluids. This usually only means a few days in hospital. Unlike most morning sickness, HG usually persists past the first trimester of pregnancy, and typically subsides by week 21 of pregnancy – although it can last much longer. However, leading doctors say that along with more ordinary morning sickness, it is a sign the pregnancy is progressing. Dr Peter Bowen-Simpkins, consultant obstetrician and medical director of the London Women’s Clinic, says: ‘It is almost always a positive sign that the pregnancy is progressing well. ‘The sickness is thought to be due to a rise in hormone levels. It normally occurs during weeks six and eight of pregnancy, when the placenta takes over production of hormones from the ovaries. ‘It generally continues until around 12 or 14 weeks, but if it stops before, it can — although not always — be a sign that all is not well.’ Mark Prigg The sources told MailOnline that the couple initially had ‘no plans whatsoever’ to announce the pregnancy until after she had had her 12-week scan. They also revealed that the Duke and Duchess had not planned to tell the Royal Family of their news until they were all gathered together at Sandringham at Christmas. But in view of the Duchess’s hospitalisation the couple made the ‘reluctant and difficult’ decision to publicly confirm their news. Members of the Royal Family – including the Queen and grandfather-to-be Prince Charles – were informed less than an hour before the statement was put out at 4pm yesterday. Uncle-to-be Prince Harry, who is serving in Afghanistan, was told by email at his base and the announcement was also Tweeted by Clarence House, prompting the couple’s official website to crash. 
 
 All the family declared themselves to be ‘delighted’ at the news. It is believed that Kate’s parents became aware of their daughter’s news at the weekend, however. 
 
 She was staying with them in Berkshire when her condition deteriorated. Speculation that she may be pregnant began last week when she unveiled a head-turning new haircut with a parted fringe as she visited the National History Museum in London. But the drama really began when Kate went to stay with her parents on Friday after a visit to her former preparatory school, St Andrew’s, just a few minutes’ drive away. 
 
 At the time, she had appeared in rude health, even taking to the hockey pitch in her high-heeled boots for a quick knock-about with students. William had been spending the first part of the weekend privately with friends at a shooting party that Kate, for now obvious reasons, had declined to join. 
 
 When he finally met up with his wife, however, he became increasingly concerned at her condition – particularly her inability to keep down any food or water. 
 
 On Monday afternoon, fearing she could become dehydrated which could prove a risk to both her and their baby, and after consulting their doctor by phone, he decided drive her to London in their Range Rover. Good sport: In this photo from last Friday the Duchess of Cambridge, plays hockey during her visit to St. Andrew's School, where she attended school from 1986 till 1995, in Pangbourne The Duchess of Cambridge attends the official opening of The Natural History Museum's Treasures Gallery in London last week (left), and she was also photographed on an official tour of Cambridge (right) 
 
 Family tree: This graphic shows all the connections between the most important members of the Royal family The couple declined the offer of an ambulance and drove themselves to the London hospital, where William’s grandfather, Prince Philip, was hospitalised earlier this year. By all accounts, the Duchess was in good spirits despite her condition and walked in unaided. Doctors diagnosed her with ‘hyperemesis gravidarum’, a form of acute morning sickness, which was making her vomit ‘round the clock’. The palace said: ‘The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in central London with hyperemesis gravidarum. On duty: Prince Charles was visiting residents in St Asaph, Wales, whose homes were damaged by the recent flooding as the news of his first grandchild was announced Short notice: It is understood that Prince Charles, Prince Harry and The Queen were only told of the baby news shortly before the announcement was made public Princess Diana holds Prince William on his Christening day as Prince Charles looks on in 1982, pictured left, and Carole and Michael Middleton hold their daughter Kate on her Christening day in 1982 
 
 ‘As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter.’ Royal mothers are usually looked after by the Queen’s gynaecologist – currently Mr Farthing, the former fiancé of murdered TV host Jill Dando. It is believed that Kate is also being cared for by the Queen's former gynaecologist Mr Setchell, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn. The couple have made no secret of wanting to start a family. 
 
 In an interview to mark their engagement, Kate, who is extremely close to her own parents and two siblings, revealed: ‘I hope we will be able to have a happy family ourselves. Rumours: Prince William sparked speculation last week after accepting a babygro from a well-wisher in Cambridge Family matters: Neither the Duke of Cambridge nor the Duchess of Cambridge have made a secret of their desire for children. Kate (left) is pictured meeting James William Davies in Cambridge just last week - and Prince William (right) was photographed holding a baby in April at Goldsmiths Hall in London 
 
 William has since said that he would love to have two children. 
 
 On Wednesday last week, the couple sparked rumours when Prince William was presented with - and accepted - a baby romper suit emblazoned with a picture of a helicopter and the words ‘Daddy’s little co-pilot’. 
 
 Smiling, the Prince, who is an RAF Search and Rescue pilot, took the suit and said: ‘I’ll keep that.’ VIDEO: It is the Duchess's body which is reacting badly. Royal commentators assess health 
 
 Delighted: Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted his congratulations Labour leader Ed Miliband tweeted to wish William and Katherine all the best Well done: The Apprentice frontman Lord Sugar tweeted to say congratulations to the happy couple Happy day: Entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson said congratulations to the couple on Twitter The royal couple had been visiting the city of Cambridge for the first time when new mother Samantha Hill, 27, from Sudbury, Suffolk, handed over the gift. 
 
 She said: 'I made it for when his little one comes along, he's a helicopter pilot so his baby will think his daddy is cool. When I gave it to him he said "I'll keep that" and handed it to his aide.' A spokesman for the couple said that they were not in a position to confirm how many weeks pregnant the Duchess is – except that the pregnancy was in its ‘very early stages’. Smiles: The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, embrace at the London 2012 Olympics PREGNANCY IS PERFECT END TO QUEEN'S DIAMOND JUBILEE YEAR News that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby marks the perfect way to round off the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year. 
 
 With the monarch having celebrated her historic 60 years on the throne, the fact that she now has a new great-grandchild on the way will ensure 2012 is even more poignant for her. 
 
 The baby will be of immense importance to the future of the monarchy - William and Kate’s baby will eventually be king or queen. 
 
 
 
 The news echoes back to the Silver Jubilee of 1977 when the Queen learned that her first grandchild was on its way. 
 
 The Princess Royal’s pregnancy was described at the time by the Palace as the best Jubilee present of all and Peter Phillips was born in the November of 1977. 
 
 The Cambridges’ baby will be the Queen’s third great grandchild. Her first Savannah was born to Peter and his wife Autumn in 2010. 
 
 Peter and Autumn had their own Jubilee baby Isla Elizabeth in March 2012 - her second name seemingly a touching tribute to her famous great-grandmother. 
 
 The hope and joy generated by William and Kate’s baby and the Diamond Jubilee, coupled with the Royal Wedding in 2011, signifies a markedly different period for the Royal Family compared with two decades ago. 
 
 Kate’s pregnancy announcement and the Jubilee come 20 years on from the Queen’s ‘annus horribilis’ year of 1992 when the Prince and Princess of Wales were at war, the Duke and Duchess of York had separated and Windsor Castle went up in flames. But MailOnline understands Kate was not pregnant during the couple’s tour of south-east Asia and the South Pacific in September. The pregnancy may speed William’s decision to leave the job he loves as an RAF search and rescue pilot based on Anglesey. 
 
 He had been due to decide by the end of the year whether to continue in his active flying role, switch to a different one, possibly as an instructor, or throw himself into royal duties full time. At the end of last week William still hadn’t informed his private office which way he would go – a decision which had puzzled some, but now appears to make sense. 
 
 Aides believe he and Kate will reluctantly leave Anglesey next autumn and relocate to London and an apartment at Kensington Palace. 
 
 
 
 Prince William and Kate pose in an engagement portrait in the Cornwall Room at St James's Palace in London in November 2010 (left) and on their wedding day in April 2011 (right) The baby will be Prince Charles’s first grandchild – he already dotes on the Duchess of Cornwall’s five grandchildren – and the Queen’s third great-grandchild. He or she will become third in line to the throne after Prince Charles and Prince William, making Prince Harry fourth. A spokesman for the Royal Air Force (RAF), with which William serves, said: 'The RAF is delighted with the news and wishes the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all the best for the future.' The couple have cancelled three upcoming engagements, including a charity event tomorrow. But they are still due to attend the film premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey next Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Government has received final consent from all the Commonwealth realms to press ahead with legislation ending discrimination against women in the line of succession to the British throne, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said today. Mr Clegg said ministers would now introduce the Succession to the Crown Bill in the House of Commons at the ‘earliest opportunity’ available in the parliamentary timetable. The legislation will end the principle of male primogeniture, so that the first child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will succeed to the throne, regardless of whether the baby is a girl or a boy. 
 
 That kiss: Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton embraced on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, following their wedding at Westminster Abbey in April 2011 The legislation will also end the bar on anyone in the line of succession marrying a Roman Catholic. ‘This is a historic moment for our country and our monarchy. People across the realms of the Commonwealth will be celebrating the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first child,’ Mr Clegg said. ‘We can also all celebrate that whether the baby is a boy or a girl, they will have an equal claim to the throne. It's a wonderful coincidence that the final confirmation from the other realms arrived on the very day that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made their announcement.’ The new rules will apply to any child born in the line of succession after the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Perth, Australia, in October 2011 when the 16 countries which have the British monarch as their head of state agreed in principle to the change. Since then, the New Zealand government has been co-ordinating the formal consents from each realm, with assurances that they will be able to complete the necessary measures before the British legislation comes into force. It will involve amendments to some of Britain's key constitutional documents, such as the Bill of Rights and Coronation Oath Act of 1688, the 1701 Act of Settlement and the 1706 Act of Union with Scotland. 
 
 BORN TO WEAR THE CROWN: THE LIFE WAITING FOR ROYAL BABY The new royal baby will be born into one of the world’s most privileged families. 
 
 But what will life be like for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s little prince or princess? 
 
 William and Kate will do their utmost to give their son or daughter as normal an upbringing as possible. The Duke has often spoken of how important it was for him to be treated like everyone else. 
 
 He relished the time he spent away from the media at university and in the Armed Forces. 
 
 Kate too, although also from a wealthy background, has been praised for her down-to-earth approach. 
 
 The youngster will, however, grow up, just as William did, with the knowledge that they will one day wear the Crown. 
 
 A private education beckons and possibly a stint at boarding school. William went to Eton and Kate to Marlborough College in Wiltshire. 
 
 William called his father ‘papa’ and his mother ‘mummy’. He also had a childhood nanny - Tiggy Legge-Bourke - to whom he was very close, but it remains to be seen whether the Duke and Duchess will employ one. 
 
 The child’s milestones - from their first day at school to their first public engagement - may well be recorded by the media and a barrage of photographers just like William experienced. 
 
 Yet William and Kate could decide to keep all such things private in a bid to offer as much protection to their child as possible. 
 
 Their recent experience will have made them all the more wary of guarding their private lives. 
 
 
 
 Kate was pictured topless while sunbathing on holiday in a remote French chateau after being snapped by a photographer using a long lens. 
 
 Summer holidays will often be spent with the family in the Scottish countryside up at Balmoral - only for this youngster grandpa will also the Prince of Wales and their great-granny the Queen. Christmases will partly be at Sandringham in Norfolk with the royals and trips to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle will expose the youngsters to opulent surroundings. Prince Harry will be a doting uncle while the Middletons too will play an important part in their life, with the Duchess being particularly close to her family, including sister Pippa. Although the baby will be King or Queen, the prospect of them ruling as monarch is a long way off. 
 
 When Princess Elizabeth was a child, she was heir apparent by the time she was 10. 
 
 William and Kate’s baby has three generations of monarchs - the Queen, the Prince of Wales and the Duke - before he or she will encounter the responsibility of wearing the crown. 
 
 At some stage, though, they can expect to be tutored on royal history and duties in preparation for their important future role. 
 
 Royal protection officers will always be close at hand while help from housekeepers and aides will be the norm. 
 
 The baby is also likely to experience a stint in the Armed Forces, particularly as a future head of the military. 
 
 William trained at Sandhurst and now serves as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot. 
 
 Even the Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1945. 
 
 If the royal offspring follows his or her parents’ lead, they will also seek out a trusted inner circle of friends, ensuring their private lives are kept just that - private. 
 
 Friendly: Catherine is welcomed by children as she visits the Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool in February 
 
 Prince William holds baby Sina Nuru in the new Winnicott Baby Unit at St Mary's Hospital in London in 2006 (left) and the couple (right) look at stuffed bears destined for children of military families in California in July 2011 WHEN THEY SAW THAT NEW HAIRDO, EVERY WOMAN KNEW We knew already, you know. The cannier observers among us had already guessed a royal baby was on the way. 
 
 How? It was all thanks to Kate’s hair: her great symbol, the vehicle through which she speaks to her public. The instant many of us caught sight of last week’s new fringe we just knew. 
 
 Elizabeth I had her virginity, Queen Victoria her mourning garb, Elizabeth II her handbags. While, for Kate – like a female Samson – it is all about the locks. By her big and bouncy blow-dry, ye shall know her. Psychologically, women tend to change their hair when there has been some radical shift in their lives. When we spotted the young Duchess hiding bashfully behind her new bangs, it was evident that a fresh era for Kate, her marriage, and her dynastic ambitions was being heralded. 
 
 Besides – as every woman who has endured one knows – a fringe takes work, whether her own or someone else’s. Forget Lupo. With this fringe was a woman surreptitiously signalling readiness for greater commitment. Not only this, but an uncharacteristic unruliness began to set in. As Elle editor and Daily Mail columnist Lorraine Candy tweeted: ‘A royal baby!! Yay. I knew it when her hair went all curly last week. Is first sign....’ 
 
 Speculation that her new darker hue was down to infant-friendly vegetable dye only compounded matters. And who could blame the Duchess, who’s been suffering so badly with extreme morning sickness, for looking to her hairdresser for a perker-upper? 
 
 A new look could be just what the doctor ordered, if one is feeling rough as hell. It’s fascinating to see how Kate’s hair has changed with her state of mind – and indeed, her status. After all, when we first saw her, her mop was an unbrushed student straggle raddled by the St. Andrew’s wind. 
 
 As royal-in-waiting, Kate’s hair grew ever greater, ever glossier with each step nearer the throne. Her logic seemed to be: ‘If it’s full and fabulous enough, they’ll just have to put a tiara on it.’ 
 
 The future, then, looks bright for those of us who treat Kate’s tresses as a spectator sport. If they have been big before, pregnancy’s hormonal surges can only render them bouncier. 
 
 Hannah Betts 
 
 
 
 Prince William, pictured greeting a small baby boy in Sydney, Australia, in 2010, has made no secret of his desire to be a father Hello there: Prince William meets a baby at the Walsall Gala Baths, West Midlands, in May 2008 
 
 MARY, MATILDA, EDMUND OR GEORGE: WHAT WILL THE BABY'S NAME BE? 
 
 Bookmakers will be taking flurries of bets on what the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will choose to call the eagerly anticipated new Prince or Princess. 
 
 Speculation as to what they might name their first child began even before Kate was pregnant with predictions posted ranging from Mary and Matilda to Edmund and George on the mumsnet website before their wedding. 
 
 Their decision - be it traditional or unusual - will most likely set a trend for the next generation of babies. 
 
 'For the most part, members of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname, but if at any time any of them do need a surname (such as upon marriage), that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor' Monarchy's official website 
 
 Royal youngsters are mostly given safe, historical names which are passed down through the monarchy such as James, Edward, Charles, George, Mary and Elizabeth. 
 
 William and Kate will also be mindful of choosing a name that befits a future King or Queen. This royal baby will be born third in line to the throne. 
 
 If Kate gives birth to a girl, many will expect the Duke and Duchess to pay homage in some way to William's late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as to the Queen. 
 
 Likewise, the arrival of a boy could see a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales or even Prince Harry. But the Cambridges are also likely to take inspiration from Kate's side of the family. Royal children often boast an array of middle names - William's own being Arthur Philip Louis - so the couple are likely to pick several - offering them the chance to include a nod to both sets of relatives. 
 
 They also might incorporate a Welsh name to reflect their links to Wales, a name with historical connections to the city of Cambridge or perhaps something Scottish to represent the time they spent together in St Andrews. 
 
 Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran, the authors of Cool Names for Babies, already have their predictions on the babyzone website - posted before Kate was even pregnant. Suggestions include Alice (the name of Queen Victoria's second daughter and also the Duke of Edinburgh's mother), Amelia (George II's second daughter), Dorothea (meaning gift of god) and Charlotte (wife of George III) for a girl and Augustus (George II's middle name), Frederick (a son of George III) or Leopold (a son of Queen Victoria). 
 
 If the baby is boy, he would be expected to be styled a Prince and if the baby was a girl, a Princess. The last example of a great granddaughter of a still serving Sovereign born on the male line was Princess Mary, who was born in 1897 and was George VI's sister and a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria. 
 
 As to the child's surname, according to the monarchy's official website: 'For the most part, members of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or Princess do not need a surname, but if at any time any of them do need a surname (such as upon marriage), that surname is Mountbatten-Windsor.' 
 
 In 1917, George V adopted Windsor as the royal family's House and surname. In 1960, for the direct descendants of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh who require a surname, it became Mountbatten-Windsor. Mountbatten was the surname Greek-born Prince Philip assumed when he became naturalised in 1947. 
 
 William has used Wales professionally in the forces. His children might use Cambridge in the same way, or even Wales too as William still retains his title Prince William of Wales. 
 
 If a boy, the baby is also likely to one day be Prince of Wales. The title is usually given to the male heir to the throne, but it is not automatic. ||||| CLOSE Prince William's wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, "was safely delivered of a daughter" Saturday morning, less than three hours after checking into central London's St. Mary's Hospital, royal officials said. (May 2) AP 
 
 William and Kate take in the spectacle outside London's St. Mary Hospital as they emerge with their newborn daughter. (Photo: WPA Pool, Getty Images) 
 
 LONDON — It's a princess! And Britain got to see her, wrapped in a blanket, just about nine hours after her birth. 
 
 Duchess Kate of Cambridge safely delivered a baby girl at 8:34 a.m. London time Saturday. 
 
 The baby arrived after less than three hours of labor. At 5:30 p.m. London time, Kensington Palace announced that mother and baby would be leaving the hospital Saturday evening local time. 
 
 Shortly after, Prince William and Duchess Kate emerged from the hospital, posed and waved to the crowd and got into cars to return to Kensington Palace. 
 
 Kate looked fresh and relaxed as she held her baby in her arms. She was dressed in a yellow-and-white buttercup-print shift dress by Jenny Packham. Her hair was loose and flowing. She did not look as if she had just been through labor. 
 
 It was a rapid end to a long week of waiting. 
 
 "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a daughter at 8.34am," Kensington Palace announced by Twitter and email. "The baby weighs 8lbs 3oz." 
 
 "Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, was present for the birth. 
 
 "The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news. 
 
 "Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well." 
 
 Kensington Palace announced that the duchess checked into St. Mary's Hospital maternity Lindo Wing at 6 a.m. local time. Her anticipated due date was around April 25, so she was about a week overdue. 
 
 The announcement was the previously arranged signal to the world media to rush to the barricaded press pens outside the hospital, in London's Paddington neighborhood not far from Kensington Palace. 
 
 Prince William carries son George into St. Mary's Hospital to meet his new baby sister. Her name had not yet been announced. (Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP) 
 
 They were there to capture pictures of Prince William leaving the hospital around 4 p.m. local time, to pick up Prince George, 21 months old. He told the waiting crowds the couple were "very happy," according to British media on the scene. 
 
 Fifteen minutes later, he was back with George, carrying him up the steps of the hospital as the little prince stared with seeming amazement at the media mob and shyly waved his hand. It was the first time he had been seen in public in the U.K. since his own birth in 2013, when his parents emerged from St. Mary's with him in their arms. He waved a tiny hand then, too. 
 
 Celebrations over the news of the birth began immediately, outside the hospital and in London. 
 
 Although the news was conveyed first via social media and email (the royals have become digitally savvy), the traditional framed announcement on fancy paper was posted on an easel just inside the gates of Buckingham Palace later in the morning. 
 
 An easel is placed in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace in London to announce the birth of the royal baby gril on May 2. (Photo: Steve Parsons, AP) 
 
 Amy Thompson, who camped outside the hospital for 13 days, said that she always knew it was going to be a girl. 
 
 "It means a lot to the people in Britain who support the royal family," she said. 
 
 She said that Princess Diana, William's mother who died in a car crash in 1997, always wanted a little girl and for that reason the baby should be called Diana. But she said she would prefer the name Charlotte. 
 
 Terry Hutt, 80, who was wearing a tailor-made suit emblazoned with a British flag pattern, said that he was delighted the new baby was a girl. "There's room for more children in their family," he said. "The main thing is that she's healthy." 
 
 The British public had bet heavily the baby would be a princess, and no less than Grandpa, Prince Charles, declared he hoped the new fourth-in-line would be a girl. 
 
 "We're hoping for a granddaughter!" he told a veteran he met at an event at Windsor Castle on Thursday. 
 
 The baby is historic because, under changed succession rules, she will be the first royal heir in nearly 1,000 years to keep her place in the succession even if her parents later have another boy. 
 
 Last time, for the July 2013 birth of the couple's first child, Prince George of Cambridge, the media spent weeks on stakeout outside the hospital, sweltering in unusual heat and getting in the way of hospital patients and staff. 
 
 This time, palace and hospital officials, seeking to avoid the craziness of the last time, decreed a new system: Media organizations reserved a spot in the press pen in advance, and only after the duchess checked in would they be allowed to gather to await the birth. 
 
 Still, some die-hard royal fans, draped in Union Jacks, started gathering days ago. 
 
 Before the birth, the atmosphere inside the hospital was "buzzing" and the nurses and midwives are excited, said Davina Johnson, 34, a mother who gave birth a few days ago and is on the same floor of St. Mary's as the duchess. 
 
 Royal fans Maria Scott, left Amy Thompson, center, and John Loughrey talk to reporter outside St Mary's Hospital in London, April 20, while waiting for second royal baby's birth. (Photo: Alastair Grant/ AP) 
 
 The name of the infant will likely not be announced until the day after she leaves the hospital, at the earliest. 
 
 Britain's leading politicians have been among the first to send their good wishes. 
 
 The birth of the royal baby comes as Britain is gripped by one of the closest general election campaigns — taking place Thursday — in decades. During the campaign, the leaders of the main political parties have mostly avoided talking about the royal family, a divisive issue here and not one that is a clear vote-winner. 
 
 However, early Saturday, the incumbent, Prime Minister David Cameron of the Conservative Party, was the first of the party leaders to wish the Duchess of Cambridge well. 
 
 "With the rest of the nation, I'll be wishing them well today, hoping for a healthy and happy outcome," he said. Cameron's main rival to occupy No. 10 Downing Street next week, Ed Miliband of the Labor Party, also offered his support, about an hour after the prime minister. 
 
 Congratulatory tweets peppered the Kensington Palace Twitter feed. President and Mrs. Obama offered their best wishes. Westminster Abbey bells pealed. And sailors on the HMS Lancaster, known as the "Queen's Frigate," sent their congratulations by standing on the deck spelling out the word "SISTER." 
 
 The former Kate Middleton, 33, had been expected to spend at least one night in the hospital, possibly receiving visitors such as her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and from her siblings, Pippa and James. Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, also visited her when Prince George was born. 
 
 But they left the hospital so soon there wasn't time. At least the waiting crowds got to see big brother George as he was carried into the hospital to see his mum and new sibling. 
 
 People also wanted to see whether Prince William would drive the family back home to Kensington Palace after they emerged from the hospital with the new baby and posed for the cameras. He did. Last time, Will proved to be adept with the royal car seat, suggesting he had practiced beforehand, but this time he was a pro. 
 
 After a few days at their sprawling apartment at the palace, the couple were expected to head north to Anmer Hall, their country retreat on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk, which has just been renovated and is near to where Will's new job as an air ambulance pilot is located. 
 
 Maternal grandmother Carole Middleton is expected to help her daughter with the new baby in the early days at Anmer Hall, as she did with George. The Cambridge nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, also will be on hand, and the couple may have a maternity nurse as well. 
 
 Next to watch for: The first pictures of the new baby with the family; last time, Kate's father, Michael Middleton, took the first snaps in the back garden of his home in Bucklebury outside London. The royal christening, and the pictures with the queen traditionally taken for that ceremony, will likely be in about three months time, along with the naming of the godparents for the new baby. 
 
 Maria Puente reported from Tysons Corner, Va.; Kim Hjelmgaard reported from London. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1GNzdvv ||||| By Radar Staff 
 
 With the world buzzing about Kate Middleton‘s pregnancy, medical experts say the fact that she is experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum, or severe nausea, could very well signal that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting twins. 
 
 With Prince William at her side, Kate remains in a London hospital with the rare condition that impacts 2 percent of pregnant women, ABC News reported, leading to weight loss and dehydration. 
 
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 Medical experts told the network the condition is linked with women having twins. 
 
 Dr. Ashley Roman, of the at New York University Langone Medical Center, said that a study of the condition revealed women who are carrying twins held a 7.5 percent higher risk of experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum. In some cases with the condition, a female child was more likely, the network reported. 
 
 Roman said that the condition shouldn’t impact the baby’s health. She told the network that Kate’s symptoms — nausea and vomiting — are “traditionally thought [of as] a sign of a healthy pregnancy.” 
 
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 Most of the cases conclude 16 or 20 weeks into the pregnancy, Roman said, adding that in scarce cases, it can last the entire nine months. 
 
 Ohio OB/GYN Dr. Nancy Cossler told ABC News Kate will likely have to endure “constantly feeling sick and puking” as she gets the illness out of her system. 
 
 “The biggest problem with this is how it interferes with your life,” Cossler said. 
 
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 Elsewhere, gamblers were wagering early and often as to what the royal heir’s name would be, with the same batch of names at the top of the favorites board. 
 
 At the English casino Ladbrokes, Elizabeth was the 8/1 favorite, with Frances at 10/1 and Diana at 12/1 odds if the child is female; if male, the casino had John or Charles at 10/1, James at 12/1, Philip or George 14/1, Edward at 16/1 and Andrew at 20/1. 
 
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 Ladbrokes’ Jessica Bridge explained why Elizabeth was the favorite of all prospective names. 
 
 “Kate and Wills pulled the wool over our eyes, but now attention turns to the name of the baby and it looks like the couple will stick with a traditional name,” Bridge said. “If they’re expecting a girl, who better to name her after than Her Majesty?” 
 
 The casino William Hill had Frances — the name of William’s grandmother on his mother’s side — and John as 9-1 favorites, with Charles, George and Victoria, all paying out at 10-1. As for gender, Hill has odds of 10/11 for either male or female. 
 
 For those who like to play the longshots, Paddy Power, a Dublin casino, had Camilla, as in Camilla Parker Bowles, at 66-1 and or Fergie, as in Sarah Ferguson, at 250-1. 
 
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– Royal-watchers are ravenous for news about the forthcoming progeny of Prince William and wife Kate, so E! and other sites take a look at what life will be like for the soon-to-be third in line to the British throne: He or she will be welcomed with tolling bells, cannons, and bonfires. Yes, really. His or her last name will be the same as William's. Which is Mountbatten-Windsor, for those not in the know. If she's a girl, her name will probably include "Diana." But it most likely won't be her first name, just one of many, the Atlantic Wire points out. Europe's largest betting firm is already taking bets, reports People. Kate will probably breastfeed the little one. That might seem obvious, but up until Princess Diana, British royals typically used wet nurses. There may (or may not) be a nanny. But just one, and any royal siblings may share. (A far cry from the two to four nannies per child some American celebrities use.) However, sources tell the Daily Beast that Kate plans to be a full-time mom and doesn't want a nanny, an idea that initially shocked Prince Charles. She may, however, have a maternity nurse for the first few weeks. Speaking of royal siblings, Kate may be having twins. Medical experts say hyperemesis gravidarum, the severe form of morning sickness that caused Kate to be hospitalized, is linked to having twins, Radar reports. Kate wants her child to lead as "normal" a life as possible. Even so, that "normal" life will likely include a $2 million wardrobe in the first year alone, according to an expert who has dressed royals in other countries. But another expert notes that those clothes will probably be "sensible," and that royal babies are typically brought up with "few parties, not too many toys, and very dull meals."