Kate Middleton meets children at Shooting Star House children's hospice in Hampton, Middlesex
Kate Middleton meets children at Shooting Star House children's hospice in Hampton, Middlesex, December 6, 2013. (Photo: REUTERS/Bradley Page)REUTERS/Bradley Page

Rumours of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge expecting a baby girl have surfaced again.

It has been just seven months since the birth of Prince George Alexander Louis and reports of Kate Middleton's second pregnancy have started doing the rounds.

Earlier in January there were reports claiming that the Kate is three months pregnant, and now the recent reports claim that she is pregnant with a baby girl.

Celebrity gossip magazine Star in their recent print issue reported that the Duchess of Cambridge has got it confirmed that the second child is a baby girl and she is very thrilled about it.

 Apparently, this time the couple is not keeping it a secret and have reportedly informed several people about the news.

"Little George is getting a sister, and Kate is absolutely thrilled," a source, who claims to be close to the royal couple, told the Star magazine, according to Hollywood Life.

"[Kate] was really hoping the next child would be a girl, and having it confirmed has just given her best start to the year. Kate and William are ecstatic!"

The magazine further reports that Kate wanted to find out the sex of the baby and for that she had genetic testing done. On Valentine's Day, she came to know the gender of the baby, following which she shared the news with husband Prince William.

The royal couple was really hoping for a girl child as they wanted a little sister for Prince George.

"William was ecstatic! He couldn't stop hugging her," a royal family insider told Star.

"He was actually a little surprised, because he was convinced it would be a boy. In his head, he was expecting a brother for George, because he himself grew up with a little brother. But now that they know a girl is on the way, it has really affected him emotionally. He knows his mother, Princess Diana, would have been overjoyed."

Meanwhile, the palace has neither confirmed nor denied the news of royal baby no.2.

Kate gave birth to Prince George at St. Mary's Hospital in London last year. The Palace announced the news of Kate's first pregnancy in December 2012.