The Duchess of Cambridge left hospital yesterday saying she was feeling “much better” after three days of treatment for a severe form of morning sickness.
Kate emerged from the central London private hospital that has been providing expert care looking relaxed and with William by her side.
The Duchess was admitted on Monday after developing a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum, which leaves expectant mothers so ill they cannot keep food or liquids down.
But she looked well and even smiled briefly as she posed with the Duke on the steps of the King Edward VII hospital for the world’s media.
When a member of the press asked how she was feeling, the Duchess, wrapped up against the cold in a coat and scarf and carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers, replied: “Much better.”
The Prince of Wales said yesterday he was “thrilled” that the Duchess was pregnant, adding: “It’s a very nice thought to become a grandfather in my old age.”
Kate, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, will now have a period of rest at her home at Kensington Palace, said St James’s Palace.
The Duchess’s attendance at two royal engagements this weekend – a Centrepoint Royal Albert Hall fundraiser and the British Military Tournament – has already been cancelled.
And it is likely her public diary will be tailored to how she is coping with the illness that causes prolonged bouts of vomiting triggered by smells and even movement.
A spokeswoman for Pregnancy Sickness Support, a charity that helps women with Kate’s condition, said rest would be important for the Duchess and the Duke’s support was also crucial.
Caitlin Dean, who suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum during three pregnancies and is a trustee of the charity, said: “She will need people to look after her, literally bring food to her and quickly. If she wants a piece of toast or an apple, it needs to come straight away before a bout of nausea sets in.”
Mrs Dean added: “Hyperemesis gravidarum can be quite cyclical. She will be feeling quite good now because she’s hydrated, but she needs to keep taking fluids or that cycle can start again, taking sips of water frequently or any other liquid she can tolerate.”
She said William’s support would also be important: “The emotional side is going to be really tough on her. It’s just so unrelenting. You wake up thinking you’ve got a whole day to get through and this lasts for months.
“William is going to be really key. My husband was my rock and, as hard as it was, it brought us closer together.”