The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Expecting Their First Child

The Buckingham Palace announced today that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting her first child. No approximate due date was given. It will be the first child for William and Kate. Her Majesty, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are “delighted” with the news.

The news was announced earlier, as the Duchess has been admitted to hospital requiring extra fluids and hydration: “The Duchess was admitted this afternoon to King Edward VII Hospital in Central London with Hyperemesis Gravidarum. 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.”

As the Law is right now, if the first-born is a girl, she will be Heiress Presumptive and not Heiress Apparent to the Throne, and can be displaced in the line of succession if a younger brother is born. However, if the recently proposed chances to succession laws are adopted by all countries of the Realm, she will be Heiress Apparent and will one day become Queen Regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and other countries of the Realm. If the first-born is a boy, then he will be Heir Apparent to the Throne from birth.

As per King George V’s 1917 Letters Patent, the title of a Prince/Princess and the style of Royal Highness was limited to the children and male-line grandchildren of the Monarch, as well as the eldest son of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales. Thus, if the baby is a boy, he will automatically be Prince of the Realm. If, however, the baby is a girl, it is likely Her Majesty will issue Letters Patent granting her (most probably, along with any further children William and Kate will have) a Princely title and style of a Royal Highness.

Warmest congratulations to the couple!

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged Letters Patent, Pregnancy, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge.

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