Church of England publishes prayer for William and Kate following pregnancy reports

LONDON — Following the annoucement that the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, and her husband Prince William are expecting their first child, the Church of England published a prayer in their behalf.

It reads:

God our creator,

we thank you for the wonder of new life

and for the mystery of human love.

We pray for William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

as they prepare to receive the gift of their child.

We thank you that we are known to you by name

and loved by you from all eternity,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

St. James's Palace announced the pregnancy Monday but would not say how far along the 30-year-old duchess is, only that she has not yet reached the 12-week mark.

The Duchess was admitted into the hospital this week suffering from hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme case of morning sickness that could be potentially dangerous.

"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter," a palace statement said.

The Church of England published a prayer for the couple in 2011 when they were preparing for their April 29, 2011, wedding. The prayer was to be used in private prayer, in groups or within public worship and was designed for anyone engaged.

It reads:

God of all grace,

friend and companion,

look in favour on William and Catherine

and all who are made one in marriage.

In your love deepen their love

and strengthen their wills

to keep the promises they will make,

that they may continue

in life-long faithfulness to each other;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The firstborn child of William and Catherine will be third in line to the throne, ahead of Prince William's brother Prince Harry, regardless of gender. Planned changes to the law of succession that end the tradition of a boy preceding an elder sister are already de facto in effect, the Cabinet Office said.

Until recently, rules stated that an elder daughter should be placed behind a younger son in the line of succession.

"Attitudes have changed fundamentally over the centuries and some of the outdated rules — like some of the rules of succession — just don't make sense to us any more," the prime minister said at a meeting of the heads of state of the Commonwealth countries last year.