.Well, Monday brought some pretty big news:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child
— Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) September 8, 2014Here's the full statement:
Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child.
The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.
As with her first pregnancy, The Duchess is suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Her Royal Highness will no longer accompany The Duke of Cambridge on their planned engagement in Oxford today. The Duchess of Cambridge is being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace."
According to the American Pregnancy Association, hyperemesis gravidarum is a severe form of morning sickness, complete with debilitating nausea and vomiting. Pregnant women suffering from the condition will often be hospitalized so they can replenish fluids through IV.
Across the pond, the reactions were...diverse:
WAKE UP THERE'S ANOTHER ROYAL BABY
— Silvia Killingsworth (@silviakillings) September 8, 2014 Another British Royal baby on the way. Kate suffering from extreme morning sickness. http://t.co/QVJV2ULYz1 #picks
— Pat Kiernan (@patkiernan) September 8, 2014 An heir and a spare. #RoyalBaby
— Elizabeth Holmes (@EHolmesWSJ) September 8, 2014And with Scotland's independence vote just days away, an immediate and pervasive suspicion of a Wag the Baby situation coursed its way through social media.
They're hardly snakey enough to plan & announce a Royal baby a week before the Scottish referendum are they? Are they that snakey?
— Rubber Bandits (@Rubberbandits) September 8, 2014 Any suggestion of a link between royal baby announcement and an upswing in the Scotland “no” vote is entirely unfounded.
— Stuart Hughes (@stuartdhughes) September 8, 2014 The Queen's offered to have the next royal baby named 'WILLIAM WALLACE ROBERT BRUCE BURNS' if the Scots agree to vote NO.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) September 8, 2014As we noted last week, a recent poll showed that the movement for an independent Scotland had all but erased a massive unionist lead ahead of the September 18 vote. The poll not only jolted British self-confidence, but also impacted markets as the pound dropped to a 10-month low against the dollar.
But with new progeny/a playmate for George on the way, who wouldn't want to stick around now?