The Duchess of Cambridge is among a new wave of royal mothers in the Firm, with the likes of Princess Eugenie becoming the latest to join the group. The 39-year-old, Meghan Markle and Zara Tindall, who is pregnant with her third child, have all had children in the past few years, creating a new generation of royal youngsters, sparking excitement among fans. But in one uneasy moment while pregnant with first child George, Kate was involved in a dramatic race to get to the hospital as she developed severe morning sickness symptoms.
With Prince William by her side, the couple rushed from the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, to a hospital miles away in London.
At the time, an insider explained how William “sprung into action”, as her symptoms developed, and “drove his wife along with their security team to hospital where Kate was placed on an IV drip”.
The trip was around 50 miles, and saw some within the Royal Family fear they may have to release information about the Duchess’ pregnancy.
In 2012 Kate was not yet near the 12-week pregnancy mark, a milestone when it becomes appropriate to share the news that a mother is expecting.
Initially, a spokesperson for St James’ Palace said Kate had received treatment at London’s King Edward VII Hospital, adding later that she had been diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum.
Hyperemesis gravidarum is an acute form of morning sickness, which is incredibly rare in women – and is often a sign that the mother is expecting twins.
Victoria Murphy, a former Daily Mirror royal correspondent, said that the “outpouring of support” the couple had received after news broke of her hospital visit “made them feel a little bit more positive about the whole thing”.
But when it soon became clear that outsiders would begin to speculate whether Kate was pregnant, those inside the Palace made the move to confirm she was expecting.
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She told Good Morning America: “Well they didn’t want to let it out because she’s still probably about the 10-week mark but they knew that once Kate was seen going into the hospital… that it was going to be out of their hands and then the media would have control of the announcement.”
Such was the speed of the announcement, many senior royals heard the news moments before a statement was made to the public.
Excitement gathered pace with the public, who were only too aware that the youngster would one day go on to become monarch.
Kate delighted royal fans last year after discussing how much she adores being a parent while on podcast Happy Baby, Happy Mum.
She told the broadcast that she believed all mothers suffer from “mum guilt”, and that “anyone who doesn’t as a mother is lying”.
The royal added: “There’s such a pull, but I am such a hands-on mum, and whatever you’re doing you want to make sure you’re doing the uttermost best job you can for your children.”
Royal baby fever has been maintained this year, after Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank announced they were expecting their first child together in mid-February.
Originally the couple teased Eugenie’s pregnancy by issuing an adorable Instagram update of a cute pair of baby shoes.
