The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, could be welcoming her second baby earlier than predicted after it has been claimed she was already suffering with morning sickness at the beginning of August. Kensington Palace announced that the Duchess was expecting her second child with husband Prince William on 8 September, after she was forced to miss a royal engagement.
The palace confirmed that the baby was due in April. Until now it has widely been believed that the 33-year-old's due date was towards the end of the month, because she was thought to only be five or six weeks pregnant at the time of the announcement.
Kate Middleton was reportedly already suffering from morning sickness in August
However artist Paul Cummins, who created the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red installation at the Tower of London, has said that the Duchess nearly didn't come to see his artwork on 5 August because she was already suffering from Hyperemisis Gravidarum – the severe morning sickness she has had in both pregnancies.
"Kate was not going to come as, though it had not been announced, she was already pregnant and suffering," Paul told The Sunday Times. "But she insisted. It was her last public outing for a while."
Paul Cummins said the Duchess nearly didn't come to see his installation at the Tower of London
Kate toured the installation with her husband Prince William and brother-in-law Prince Harry. They each planted a ceramic poppy to add to the total of 888,246 – one for every British and colonial life lost in World War One.
The fact that Kate was already feeling ill at the start of August suggests that Prince George's little brother or sister could actually be due nearer to the middle of April.
The Duchess has remained active throughout her pregnancy and released a special video for charity Place2Be, of which she is royal patron, on Monday. In the video Kate called upon fellow parents to encourage them to speak openly with their children about mental health issues, in support of Children's Mental Health Week.
Kate showed off her baby bump in Portsmouth on Thursday
Kate has also carried out a number of public engagements, including a visit to Portsmouth alongside Sir Ben Ainslie on Thursday.
The Duchess is expected to continue carrying out public engagements until mid-March when she will stop and rest before giving birth.