Britain's Prince William, Catherine Expecting a Baby

 Britain's St. James Palace has announced that Prince William and his wife, Catherine, are expecting a baby.

In a statement Monday, the palace said the royal couple - known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - are very pleased to announce they are expecting a baby, and that members of both their families are delighted with the news.

The statement added that Catherine, 30, is in London's King Edward VII Hospital for treatment of acute morning sickness. It says the pregnancy¹ is in its early stages, and Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in the hospital for several days.

Prince William, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, is second in line to inherit throne after his father, Prince Charles. William's and Catherine's first child will become the third in line when he or she is born.

Last year, Britain and other Commonwealth² countries that recognize the British monarch³ as head of state agreed to new rules that give females equal status with males in the order of royal succession. Previous laws gave priority to male descendants.

William married the former Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony viewed by an estimated worldwide audience of 2 billion.

1 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

2 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

3 monarch   

n.帝王，君主，最高统治者

参考例句：

• The monarch's role is purely ceremonial.君主纯粹是个礼仪职位。
• I think myself happier now than the greatest monarch upon earth.我觉得这个时候比世界上什么帝王都快乐。