Duchess Catherine

Duchess Catherine

Britain's Duchess Catherine has been spending time with her parents while she continues to battle severe morning sickness.

The Duchess has been unable to fulfil a number of her planned engagements since announcing she was pregnant for the second time, and has been staying with her parents in Bucklebury as she seeks to make a full recovery.

A family friend told PEOPLE: "When you're ill, the place you feel most comfortable is at home with your mum, isn't it?

"When she's there, Kate can just relax and sit on the sofa and not have to worry about having to deal with all the staff and everything else that comes with a big palace full of rooms."

Duchess Catherine, 32, was forced to abandon plans to travel to Malta late last month due to her illness.

She had planned to visit the Mediterranean island as part of its independence celebrations.

Instead, her husband Prince William, also 32, travelled to Malta to attend her engagements.

Meanwhile, it's been speculated that the couple - who had baby George in July 2013 - hope to make an official visit to New York in the next few weeks, provided the Duchess is well enough to travel.