Prince William yesterday arrived back at his pregnant wife Kate’s bedside looking hunched and tense as Kate spent a second day in hospital with acute morning sickness. The Duke of Cambridge walked into the King Edward VII Hospital in central London with his head bowed as he went to comfort the Duchess, who has been on a drip to restore lost nutrients. Clarence House told MailOnline that Kate is still expected to spend the next few days in hospital, and requires a ‘period of rest’ to recover from the rare illness that has left her weak and tired. Kate’s mother Carole Middleton is also planning to visit and smiled as she left the family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, yesterday.

The duchess, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, fell ill with Hyperemesis gravidarum, which makes it almost impossible to eat or drink, at her parents’ home this past weekend. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been hoping to keep the news they were expecting a baby to themselves until Christmas Day. But with Kate admitted to King Edward VII Hospital yesterday with the illness, they had little choice but to make the announcement. The Queen had not been told until yesterday.

Despite the concerns over Kate’s health, her mother and father appeared relaxed and happy today as they drove to and from the family’s £4.85million country mansion.

The Middletons are said to be ‘elated’ at the pregnancy and Kate’s sister Pippa, who lives not far from the hospital in Fulham, south-west London, is due to visit soon.

A Clarence House spokesman said yesterday: “The situation is the same as yesterday – we said she would stay in for several days and that is still the case. It’s a period of rest that she needs, so she will stay in for several days.”

The pregnancy marked a day of intense joy for the nation, although the excitement was tinged with anxiety. A royal source said the couple and their families are concerned about Kate’s illness, but have been ‘reassured’ it is not a dangerous condition for either the Duchess or her baby.The couple delighted millions around the world — including their own families — with the happy news. But as the word spread, the parents-to-be were together in hospital, facing the first hurdle in a much longed for pregnancy. Kate, 30, who is barely eight weeks pregnant, was taken to the hospital just after lunch by her husband and immediately put on a drip to stop her becoming dehydrated.

— Daily Mail