Prince William, Kate Middleton expecting first child

Prince William and Kate Middleton are expecting their first baby. The happy news was announced by Buckingham Palace on Monday after the Duchess of Cambridge was hospitalized after suffering from acute morning sickness.

The royal household was forced to confirm that Kate Middleton was 12 weeks pregnant after she was admitted to King Edward VII hospital in central London with a severe case of morning sickness called Hyperemesis Gravidarum. The statement also revealed that Queen Elizabeth’s daughter-in-law might be kept in the hospital for several days, but her condition was not serious.

The statement on the Buckingham Palace website said Queen Elizabeth and members of both families "are delighted with the news" of Kate’s pregnancy.

After the announcement, the hospital was besieged by television cameras and press photographers, who camped outside the front door to catch a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, heirs to the British throne.

As soon as news of the pregnancy hit the internet, Prime Minister David Cameron took to Twitter to share his joy and offer his congratulations. He tweeted, "I'm delighted by the news that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting a baby. They will make wonderful parents."

Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labor Party, followed suit, writing, “Fantastic news for Kate, William and the country. A royal baby is something the whole nation will celebrate.”

Celebrities all over the world also took to the social networking website to congratulate the parents-to-be. Cheryl Cole wrote, “I’m sooooooo excited that we’re having a royal baby!!!! Congratulations to Kate and Wills !!!!!!”

Olly Murs tweeted, “Cool #royalbaby that’s amazing news!! Dam it how comes they never mentioned it on the XTRA Factor last week haha,” while mother-of-four Maria Shriver wrote, “Wonderful news for Prince William & Kate Middleton. Kate has Hyperemises. Had that with my last child. Not fun at all. Hang in there, Kate.”

The royal couple, who tied the knot in a fairytale wedding in April 2011, presently lives in North Wales, where Prince William is a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot. People all over the world have been impatiently waiting for news of the heir to British throne ever since the much-loved pair wed last year.