Royal baby No. 2 on the way: Catherine, William announce her pregnancy

Yes, Prince George is going to be a big brother: There’s a second royal baby on the way for Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

“Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their second child,� according to a statement from Clarence House on Monday. “The Queen and members of both families are delighted with the news.�

Alas, Catherine, the former Kate Middleton, is suffering once again from severe morning sickness, which may have prompted the announcement Monday even though, according to World Now, she’s still in her first trimester.

In December 2012, the announcement of Prince George’s pending personhood was prompted by Catherine’s hospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum so she could receive fluids and intravenous nutrition while experiencing extreme, persistent vomiting. At the time, she couldn’t attend public events as scheduled, so an explanation was needed.

This time around she’s being treated by doctors at Kensington Palace, not at a hospital, Clarence House said, but she still won’t be making it to an engagement in Oxford today with her husband.

Kate and Wills married in April 2011. George was born July 22, 2013, and is third in line to the British throne behind his grandfather Prince Charles and his dad, Prince William.

Rumors of a second pregnancy have, incidentally, been in the air for months. This time, however, they’re true.

That said, Royal Baby No. 2 might already have more political sway than his or her older brother. At least when it comes to the outcome of an upcoming decision on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom.

With the number of breakaway supporters pulling close recently with those who would keep Scotland’s governance as is, there are some who see the announcement of a new and presumably cute-as-heck British royal on the way as a plus — and possibly a scale-tipper — for the “no� movement. Because who doesn’t love a royal baby and want a piece of that for their own?

Then again, according to the Telegraph, Scottish love of the royal family might not be overwhelming. Of those who support independence, almost 60% wouldn’t want to keep the queen as monarch.

If an independent Scotland wanted to keep royal ties, it could in theory stay in the Commonwealth of Nations even as it separated from Britain So having it both ways — independence paired with a royal family — might be possible.

“Congratulations & best wishes to the Earl & Countess of Strathearn,� Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, an independence supporter, tweeted Monday, using the couple’s traditional and rarely acknowledged Scottish titles. “Wonderful to hear they’re expecting their second baby — very happy news!�

And exactly what does he mean by that? Hmm. Perhaps simply congratulations.

Follow Christie D’Zurilla on Twitter @theCDZ and Google+. Follow the Ministry of Gossip on Twitter @LATcelebs.