Duchess of Cambridge reveals there is a new member of her family

The Duchess of Cambridge at Hampton Court CREDIT: TIM IRELAND/AP

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have secretly expanded their family, it emerged today - with a hamster called Marvin.

The Duchess told children at a new playground that Prince George and Princess Charlotte are keeping the new pet at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, competing for attention with the family dog, Lupo.

The Duchess was opening the Magic Garden at Hampton Court Palace, a play area for toddlers and young children, where she met children from St John the Baptist Junior School in Hampton Wick.

One of the children, a nine-year-old called Darcey, said: “She said she had a hamster, and Charlotte really likes it because the whiskers always tickle her face.”



The Duchess stares into the dragon's mouth CREDIT: STEFAN WERMUTH/REUTERS