Kate Middleton Pregnant: 'It's Rather Splendid' says Prince Charles

Prince Charles has said the news Kate Middleton is pregnant for a second time is "rather splendid".

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expecting a baby after the Duchess started suffering Hyperemesis Gravidarum - acute morning sickness.

Attending a Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme in south London, grandfather Prince Charles commented for the first time on the news, describing it as "exciting".

Talking to Elizabeth Owoseje, mother of entrepreneur and furniture designer Demi Owoseje, the Prince of Wales responded to wishes of congratulations by joking: "what have I done? It has not arrived yet."

The heir to the British throne then said the Duchess's pregnancy was "rather splendid".

In the wake of the early announcement, which made headlines across the globe, Her Royal Highness pulled out of a trip with her husband to Oxford and was suffering from acute morning sickness.

Prince William said he and the Duchess were "thrilled" at the fact they are expecting their second child, who will become fourth in line to the throne regardless of its sex.

The Duchess gave birth to Prince George at the St Mary's Hospital, London, on 22 July.