Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton are expecting their second child, Britain's royal family said Monday in a brief statement. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their first child, Prince George of Cambridge, last July.

Clarence House, the office for the junior royals, said the queen and members of both families were "delighted with the news." British Prime Minister David Cameron,  Labour leader Ed Miliband,  and the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby also extended their congratulations to the royal couple. 

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"Many congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I'm delighted by the happy news that they're expecting another baby," wrote Cameron on Twitter. 

The due date has yet to be announced, but the Palace stated Kate, 32, is around 12 weeks pregnant. Royal watchers were concerned when Middleton dropped out of a scheduled appearance for when was revealed to be a case of hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness. Middleton experienced intense morning sickness with her first pregnancy. She is being treated at Kensington Palace, where she and William, 32, officially reside.

The child will be fourth in line to the British throne, following Prince Charles, William, and George. "The heir and the spare" is already being bandied about in the British press, a catchphrase used to describe William and his younger brother, Prince Harry, who now moves to fifth position.

As is common with royal pregnancies, bets are already being laid for the gender of the baby, which has not yet been revealed. Bet are also being placed with regard to names; it is British royal tradition that children be named after a predecessor. There have been six "Georges" to sit on the British throne since 1714, when King George I of Hanover was crowned.

Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in 2011.

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