Another Princess! Kate Middleton & Prince William Already Picked A Name For Baby No. 3
They say the third time’s the charm, but the early months of Kate Middleton’s latest pregnancy have been just as difficult as the first two. As the palace noted in a Sept. 4 announcement, the duchess is once again suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that causes severe morning sickness, forcing her to pull out of several public appearances — even, to Kate’s devastation,Prince George’s first day of school, on Sept. 7. Still, though the duchess was “desperately sad” to miss her eldest’s “special milestone,” according to a palace insider, that morning’s visit from the royal doctor managed to lift her spirits. The insider says the doc came bearing good news for a change: word that Kate and Prince William, both 35, are expecting another baby girl! “They are over the moon,” dishes the insider. “Expect the whole family to start celebrating as soon as Kate is up to it.” An intimate reveal
Despite no official due date, palace sources say that Kate is currently about three months along, meaning the next heir — who will be fifth in line to the throne, ahead of her uncle, Prince Harry — should arrive in March. And while the royals are remaining equally mum about the baby’s gender, the insider says Kensington Palace is abuzz with word of a future princess: “Once Kate told William and the kids, there was little hope for discretion.”
In fact, George, 4, and Charlotte, 2, found out they were having a baby sister the same day as their mum. “Kate was overjoyed to have something to celebrate as a family, especially since she couldn’t be there for George that morning,” shares the insider.
First, however, she conjured an intimate way to tell her husband. While he was off taking George to school, the insider says, Kate penned a handwritten note to William in the voice of the new baby, signing it with the name they had long discussed were they to have another girl: Alice. When the prince discovered the letter on his desk when he arrived home, the insider says, he was moved to tears. Later that day, they told the children by presenting cupcakes with pink icing after dinner. “George couldn’t stop rubbing his mother’s tummy,” the insider says. “He was too young to understand when Kate was pregnant with Charlotte, but this time he’s excited.”
Want OK! each day? Sign up here!
The excitement of the gender reveal has been enough to give Kate a much-needed energy boost as the family preps for the new arrival. With the name discussion out of the way (Alice, a family name, is one of Queen Victoria’s daughters and the mother of the Duke of Edinburgh), the couple has moved on to choosing godparents. Though they have traditionally bestowed the honor upon cousins and friends, they are said to be strongly considering Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle, who they believe will be a member of the family by the time the baby arrives.
And of course, with an expanding family, Kate and William needed a bigger home, hence their summertime move from Anmer Hall, their country estate two hours outside of London, to the 22-room Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace. “Kate has already chosen the perfect room for the baby’s nursery, and is having a gorgeously serene floral paper custom made for the walls; there will be lots of white and soft pinks and greens,” dishes the royal mole. “She also wants George and Charlotte to participate in making the baby feel welcome, so she’s allowing them each to choose a special stuffed animal to place in the room.”
down-to-earth abbey
While the move and its requisite redecorating are a lot for the duchess to take on — particularly given her current condition — she’s adamant about being hands-on with every project, says the insider, much to William’s concern. “He desperately wants to keep Kate happy but he worries that she’s overtaxing herself,” the source explains. Still, nothing is set to change, even when their new daughter arrives. “William thinks Kate would benefit from having an additional nanny or housekeeper around, especially in these giant new quarters, but she continues to nix the idea outright,” says the insider. “Kate is grateful to have help during her pregnancy, but as soon as she’s back on her feet, she’s determined to keep their household as close to a regular family of five as possible.”
