Aw, Kate Middleton and Prince William Are Expecting a Baby!

Finally, the royal couple is expecting a baby!

Yesterday, St. James’s Palace confirmed the news, and announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their first baby!

“Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting a baby,” the palace said in their statement. “The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry and members of both families are delighted with the news.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron also reacted to the big news, telling BBC, “It’s absolutely wonderful news and I’m sure everyone around the country will be celebrating with them tonight.”

The prime minister told BBC that he found out when “I was handed a note in a meeting. And I have to say, it was difficult to keep it a secret.”

A palace source said that Kate is not yet 12 weeks along. The palace did announce that Kate was “in the very early stages” of her pregnancy. Two days ago Kate was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital in London due to suffering hyperemesis gravidarum (acute morning sickness). She’s expected to remain in the hospital for just a few days and will rest at home after. Prince William is at the hospital with her.

A palace source told press that they decided to announce Kate’s pregnancy after her hospitalization. The palace, which rarely comments on speculation, surprisingly said, “We would be the ones to make the announcement, not Hollywood.”

Prince William told ABC News’ Katie Couric in an interview in May 2012 that, “It is quite strange reading about it, but I try not to let it bother me. I’m just very keen to have a family and both Catherine and I are looking forward to having a family in the future.”

The baby will be the queen’s third great-grandchild. And due to a dramatic change in the rules of succession, the royal couple’s first-born will likely be the heir to the throne, regardless of the baby’s gender.

Last year, the heads of 16 Commonwealth countries agreed to a change in the rules of succession so that first-born children of either gender can take the throne. Queen Elizabeth II was only eligible to be monarch because her father had no male children. The British Parliament must still amend existing law to make the succession change official.

“Put simply, if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were to have a little girl, that girl would one day be our queen,” British Prime Minister David Cameron told reporters in 2011.

Happy Baby Bump Watching!

I am sure there will be great maternity fashion to come!