Joy ... Wills and Kate in Kuala Lumpur in September
Arthur Edwards
WILLIAM and Kate’s baby will be the first to automatically succeed to the throne —
even if it is a girl.
A dramatic shake-up of ancient laws means male royals will no longer be able to leapfrog their
older sisters to become the monarch.
So the child is guaranteed to remain third in line to the throne — after Prince Charles and Wills
himself — even if Kate goes on to have sons.
The historic change to centuries-old succession laws was agreed just last year at a meeting
of the 16 Commonwealth countries where The Queen is head of state.
And as PM David Cameron last night sent his congratulations to William and Kate, his deputy
Nick Clegg said the Government was putting the final touches to the necessary legislation.
Mr Clegg said: “This is a very exciting day and brilliant news.
“And by happy coincidence we are working right now to put the finishing touches to laws that
will update the very old-fashioned rules of succession and mean if they have a baby girl she will
succeed to the throne.
“That is a big, big change and something the country thinks should have happened a long time
ago.”
Kiss me Kate ... couple smooch on Palace balcony after wedding last year
The change — which will involve amendments to historic documents such as the 1689 Bill of
Rights and the 1701 Act of Settlement — means the baby will one day be head of the armed
forces, supreme governor of the Church of England and head of the Commonwealth.
The shake-up is believed by many to be long overdue in a society where women have long
had equal rights in most other aspects of life.
The present Queen only succeeded to the throne because she had no brothers — and if
Princess Anne had been born before Charles HE would still have succeeded.
Mr Cameron — who is keen to implement the reforms as soon as possible — was passed a
note about Kate’s pregnancy during a meeting at Downing Street yesterday.
He said: “I’m delighted by the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a
baby.
“They will make wonderful parents.The whole country will be celebrating with them.”
US President Barack Obama’s press secretary said: “On behalf of everyone here in the White
House, beginning with the President and the First Lady, we extend our congratulations to the
Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on this welcome news.”
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: “A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate.”
Pledging Labour’s support to the change in the law of succession, shadow justice secretary
Sadiq Khan said: “It is fantastic news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting
their first child.
“It’s only right that we rectify the historical anomaly that prevents the eldest child of the monarch
from becoming the head of state simply because of their gender.”
ST James's Palace confirms news that Duke and Duchess Cambridge are expecting their first
child
Virgin tycoon Richard Branson said: “Congrats to Kate and Wills on expecting your first child.”
Last night there was speculation that Kate’s severe morning sickness meant it was more
likely that she would have a girl.
According to a recent study, 56 per cent of women put in hospital by hyperemesis gravidarum
in early pregnancy had a girl, compared with 44 per cent who had boys. Some experts also
believe the condition could be a sign that she is expecting TWINS.
Jules Robertson, a midwife for the baby charity Tommy’s, said: “There is evidence to suggest
that hyperemesis gravidarum is linked to increased hormone levels, which is commonly found
in twin pregnancies.”
Concerned William looked happy but tired last night as he left the King Edward VII hospital in
central London where Kate is being treated by the Queen’s former gynaecologist Marcus
Setchell. Mr Setchell, 68, attended Her Majesty for 18 years.
Singa-pair ... smiling Wills and Kate in Singapore on start of tour of Far East
He delivered the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s two children, Lady Louise Windsor, nine, and
Viscount Severn, four.
The Countess collapsed and nearly died when she had Louise in November 2003 after the
placenta ruptured the lining of her womb.
Mr Setchell kept a close watch over her during her second pregnancy and also cared for her
after an ectopic pregnancy in 2001.
The dad of four took over as the Queen’s surgeon-gynaecologist in 1990 from Sir George
Pinker, who had delivered nine royal babies, including Princes William and Harry.
He was succeeded in 2008 by Alan Farthing, fiancé of murdered TV presenter Jill Dando. Mr
Farthing will look after Kate during her pregnancy.
myView
By INGRID SEWARD, Editor of Majesty magazine
THE Queen, like the rest of the world, will be delighted with this news. It is also a magnificent
way to round off the Jubilee year.
I can’t help thinking Kate may have planned this timing. It’s probable she and Wills agreed to
wait until they finished their Jubilee duties. Kate is a very orderly girl, nothing she does is not
thought through.
Going to hospital was not planned and the Royals must have decided that they had to get this
news out, rather than have speculation out there.
Her condition will mean that Kate will need to take a back seat in her Royal duties for the
moment.
I know William likes his privacy, but he won’t get too much of it now.
Togs secret
Thrilled ... Wills with Samantha Hill's baby gear
Rex
WILLS was thrilled when a fan gave him a romper suit last week, but he didn’t reveal why he
was so chuffed.
Samantha Hill, 27, made the outfit in anticipation of the couple’s first baby — not knowing one
was on the way.
She gave it to RAF search and rescue pilot Wills when he went on a walkabout in Cambridge
last Wednesday.
The tiny outfit sported a picture of a helicopter on the front and the words “Daddy’s Little Co-
Pilot”.
William’s eyes lit up and he told her: “I’ll keep that”, before passing it to an aide.
New mum Samantha, of Sudbury, Suffolk, said: “He’s a helicopter pilot so his baby will think his
daddy is cool.”
Meanwhile, British babycare manufacturers and maternity-wear designers can expect a multi-
million pound sales boost, say retail experts.
Did it happen on isle tour?
Colourful ... the couple arrive in the Solomon Islands
Ian Jones
KATE is less than 12 weeks pregnant — fuelling speculation that the baby could have been
conceived on the Royal couple’s tour of the Far East.
Exactly 12 weeks ago Wills and Kate were preparing for their trip — to mark the Queen’s
Diamond Jubilee — and touched down in Singapore on
September 11. After that they visited Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and the Solomon Islands, where
they were soaking up the sun 11 weeks ago.
Their last stop was the tiny island of Tuvalu before before jetting off to Brisbane in Australia on
September 19. They returned to the UK on October 9.
Hmm... think we'll get auntie Pippa to buy this
Fake Kate ... lookalike poses with baby clothes
KATE looked to have given the game away about her pregnancy by shopping for baby clothes.
In fact it wasn’t the real Duchess, but a Kate lookalike publicising a London baby stor
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