St. James’ Palace announced on Monday that Prince William and his wife Catherine (Kate) are expecting a baby .
Now speculation is growing that the Royal couple could shortly be welcoming two pairs of “little tiny feet.”
Reasons for this possibility — and it is only a possibility — are down to Kate’s medical condition.
The Duchess of Cambridge is suffering from a condition known an hyperemesis gravidarum , essentially an acute form of morning sickness which causes severe nausea and is remedied by increased hydration, nutrients, and bedrest.
The condition affects two percent of pregnant women.
According to Professor Tim Draycott, a consultant obstetrician at the University of Bristol, the condition can indicate that a mother is carrying more than one baby.
“Hypermesis is slightly more common with twins,” Draycott told Reuters .
The condition also means Kate may have an enlarged placenta, which would make her slightly more likely to give birth to twins, triplets, or other multiples.
Odds on the royal couple having triplets have dropped from 1000:1 to 100:1 and on quadruplets from 5000:1 to 500:1. Betting outlet William Hill have also offered 8:1 on the child — or children — having ginger hair like Prince William’s younger brother, Harry.
Today, Prince William, a Royal Air Force search and rescue pilot, visited his wife at the King Edward VII hospital in Central London.
Since the announcement was made, a huge contingent of press have set up camp outside the hospital.
The Royal pregnancy is a matter of international interest. Well-wishers have included President Obama, assorted Royal relatives, politicians, and millions of congratulatory messages from ordinary people around the world.
Due to ongoing changes to British legislature regarding the rules of Royal Succession , whatever the sex of the child, he or she will become third in line to the throne after Prince Charles and Prince William.
Last year, Britain and other commonwealth countries that recognize the Queen Elizabeth II as their Monarch agreed to the change the centuries-old rule that males automatically take precedence over female siblings or relatives.
But even this new change won’t prevent a conundrum arising, though, if Royal twins arrive months from now. The question of which baby would take precedence in the Line of Succession could literally come down to which child emerges first.
William Hanson, an expert on royal protocol, told The Daily Mail Online :
“If, and we won’t know until it happens, Kate is to have twins and has a Cesarean section, the third in line to the throne would most likely be the one that is pulled out first, just as if she was having twins normally.”
He added:
“There is no recent precedent as no other twins have been born into the royal family in the past hundred years.”
The new rules also put an end to the previous ban on any future monarch marrying a catholic.
If Kate does have twins — or more — what names do you think would be appropriate? And yes, Honey Boo Boo is off the table.
