Royal couple send baby thanks cards

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been sending thank you postcards to well-wishers who have congratulated them about their forthcoming baby.

The public have been writing to the couple since it was announced in December that Kate was pregnant, with the baby due in July.

A rare form of pregnancy sickness affected the Duchess in the run-up to Christmas, so the messages of support and good wishes would have been particularly welcome.

The Royal Family are known for their letter writing and sometimes reply by hand to correspondence sent by the public.

William and Kate have not signed the postcards but it features a message and a photograph of the couple.

It reads: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were touched by your kind words following the wonderful news that they are expecting their first baby. It really was most thoughtful of you and their royal highnesses send their warmest thanks and best wishes."

The picture was chosen by the Duke and Duchess and was taken in Singapore last September during their visit to the city-state's Botanic Gardens.

William and Kate were photographed as they left an orchid garden where the Duke had seen a bloom named after his mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

A St James's Palace spokesman said: "In response to messages of goodwill on the occasion of the pregnancy the correspondence office have sent out postcards with a picture of the couple and a message."