Pellau Magazine

The Duchess of Cambridge has carried out her first official engagement of the year, with a visit to Hope House.

Kate Middleton, who is four-and-a-half months pregnant, stepped out wearing a grey wrap dress that clearly showed her growing baby bump.

The visit, the Duchess' first of 2013, was to support the charity Action on Addiction, one of five charities to which she acts as patron. Hope House is a 22-bed residential facility for women who need help getting over addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The first photos of Kate with a baby bump out on official business come just weeks after St James' Palace criticised a magazine for printing pictures of the Duchess in a bikini during a holiday in the Caribbean. 

Kate Middleton and Prince William's baby is due in July, St. James' Palace has announced.

A spokesperson for the couple added that the Duchess of Cambridge's condition is also continuing to improve since spending time in hospital last month, after she was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum.

In a brief statement, the Palace confirmed: "Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July.

"The Duchess's condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month."

SOURCE: BBC