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The royal baby: Everything you need to know about Meghan and Harry’s big day

Prince Harry’s about to become a dad! Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is due within weeks. Here’s everything you need to know about the soon-to-be newest royal baby.

After Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex announced their pregnancy in

Sydney last October, it was calculated the baby will arrive later this month, or early May.

Meghan told a wellwisher in Birkenhead, North-West England that she was “six and a half

months” months pregnant in January. The favourite date according to one bookmaker is the

week starting April 22. Irish bookies Paddy Power this week revealed it’s 2-1 Meghan will

give birth then, followed by 3-1 the week after. If the baby arrives on Easter Sunday, April

21, then it will share the birthday of its great-grandmother, The Queen. A few days later on

April 23, it will share with Prince Louis.

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Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrive to attend an event at Canada House in central London, on March 11, 2019. Picture: AFP
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrive to attend an event at Canada House in central London, on March 11, 2019. Picture: AFP

Gender

Although the couple has been careful to keep the gender secret — apparently

adhering to royal tradition in not finding out the sex, it’s not clear whether they do know

and are just not saying. In January Meghan said, “We don’t know, we’re keeping it a surprise

— whichever way, we’ll be thrilled with the outcome.” There were reports at her baby

shower in New York in February that she told her friends she was having a boy but then

close friend Misha Nonoo was spotted buying a pink cashmere baby shawl.

Bookies, at least, reckon it is a girl. Ladbrokes this week had it at 8/11 a girl and evens for a

boy.

And just to confuse things further, there is still suggestion it could be twins. On March 5 the

couple attended a reception at Buckingham Palace where Harry spoke to fellow guest,

Falklands War veteran Simon Weston and may have hinted at twins. Weston told The UK’s

Express he joked they would be getting plenty of sleepless nights soon and says Harry

replied cryptically, “if they have any more than two it will serve him right.”

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a reception to mark the 50th Anniversary of the investiture of The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in London on March 5, 2019. Picture: AFP
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, attend a reception to mark the 50th Anniversary of the investiture of The Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace in London on March 5, 2019. Picture: AFP

Name

The general rule in the Royal Family is that direct heirs to the throne take traditional

names — hence Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge went for George and

Charlotte and then the French Louis, banking on the fact their third child is unlikely to take

the throne. Traditional names include Albert, Charles, Edward, Henry, Elizabeth, Anne,

Mary, Victoria and Alice. Parents of children further down the line of succession are freer

with their choices — Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York went for Beatrice and

Eugenie and Princess Anne for Peter and Zara.

As the baby will be seventh in line to the throne, it is likely Harry and Meghan will pick

something meaningful to them, but not too wild. According to society magazine Tatler, top

predictions are Diana, Victoria, Alice, Grace and even Matilda for a girl and Arthur, Albert,

James, Frederick and Spencer for a boy. However, this week Ladbrokes reported a flurry of

betting on the name Elizabeth, putting it as 6/1 favourite, followed by Diana and Victoria at

8/1. The top bets for a boy are Albert and Philip.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Picture: AFP
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Picture: AFP

Title

As to whether the couple’s little prince or princess will really be one, that is up to the

parents and The Queen. The Queen has to give permission, otherwise a son of a duke would

be an earl and a daughter a lady. Anne opted not to give Peter and Zara any titles to let

them have normal lives, and Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex’s children are

Viscount and Lady. Insiders speculate Harry and Meghan will be more egalitarian too.

British police officers guard the entrance of St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London, when Prince William's wife, Kate, was admitted in the early stages of labour. Picture: AP
British police officers guard the entrance of St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London, when Prince William's wife, Kate, was admitted in the early stages of labour. Picture: AP

Hospital

There has been much speculation over where the baby will be born. Initial reports

suggested the duchess might even favour a home birth, but it was then thought she would

choose The Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington like other Royal Family

members.

Anne was the first member of the Royal Family to have a baby in hospital, choosing St

Mary’s Hospital for the birth of Peter and Zara. She was followed by Princess Diana who had

William and Harry there — William becoming the first direct heir to the throne to be born in

hospital. Catherine subsequently had her three children there.

However, that now looks unlikely as it was officially revealed on Thursday that Harry and

Meghan finally moved into their new home Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate. With

Windsor an hour west of London, it is expected Meghan will choose a private maternity unit

near Windsor or the NHS Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, where Sophie had her children

Louise and James.

Frogmore Cottage, the soon to be home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
Frogmore Cottage, the soon to be home of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Royal Correspondent for the UK’s Sun newspaper Emily Andrews believes there will be no

photo call outside, either.

While Diana and Catherine both appeared on the hospital steps looking immaculate just

hours after giving birth, it’s not certain Meghan will follow suit. One woman who urges her

not to is American business owner Chelsea Hirschhorn who took out a full-page advert in

The New York Times recently asking her not to do the photo call.

The CEO of Fridababy begged her to skip the photos and instead have an “honest

conversation about what women go through during birth and immediately after.”

Meghan’s medical team has not been confirmed, although Catherine had the same royal

doctors for all her births: consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and consultant

gynaecologist Alan Farthing.

A comparison between the presentation of royal heirs … Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales with newborn son Prince William, left, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and their newborn son Prince George both leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital.
A comparison between the presentation of royal heirs … Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Diana, Princess of Wales with newborn son Prince William, left, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and their newborn son Prince George both leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital.

Announcement

When the baby is born, royal protocol dictates that The Queen is notified

first — William telephoned her from the hospital using a specially-encrypted line. A

confirmation of the birth is placed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace, but a more

modern method has also been announcing it on social media. In preparation, this week

Harry and Meghan launched their own Instagram page where they promise to post

“important announcements.” The @sussexroyal site broke the world-record for the fastest

amassing of a million followers. There is also a gun salute by the King’s Troop Royal Horse

Artillery.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, talks with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, as they attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 11, 2019. Picture: AFP
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, talks with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, as they attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in London on March 11, 2019. Picture: AFP

Family involvement

When William and Catherine had Prince George, they took refuge in

the Middleton family home in Berkshire, where grandparents Michael and Carole were on

hand to help the new parents adapt.

Harry and Meghan are also recruiting the aid of family — with Meghan said to be moving

mum Doria Ragland into the new family home for hands-on help in the first few weeks.

Doria was spotted taking baby care classes in Los Angeles last year and she is liked and

respected by her new in-laws. Harry is expected to take a couple of weeks paternity leave as

William did, although he attended the ANZAC Day service in Westminster Abbey just three

days after Louis’ birth, where he famously nodded off.

Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland. Picture: Getty
Meghan Markle and her mother, Doria Ragland. Picture: Getty

Meghan will no doubt return to work after a few months maternity leave. When that

happens, it is inevitable the pair will get a nanny, just as William and Catherine did. The

latter employ Norland Nannies — for generations the go-to agency of the upper class, made

famous by their smart brown uniforms. It was through Norland that Catherine recruited

Spanish-born super-nanny Maria Borrallo who has been with the family for years.

Whether the new baby will heal the rift between Meghan and the Markle family is anyone’s

guess, especially with the next big family occasion being a christening.

Christening: If Meghan does not invite her father Thomas Markle to the christening, then it

would appear any hope of reconciliation is lost. However, it is probably unlikely she would

extend the offer to her half-sister Samantha, who says her tell-all book is now a two-volume

epic In the Shadows of the Duchess, launching soon.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for a Christening. Picture: Getty
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge arrive at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate for a Christening. Picture: Getty

Royal babies are usually baptised quickly. George was christened almost exactly three

months after he was born, Princess Charlotte at two months and Louis at 11 weeks. And it is

expected to be a small family affair in Windsor. The days of large formal events are gone

—William was christened aged just six weeks, much to the distress of his mother Diana, who

said she was corralled her into holding a formal event in Buckingham Palace attended by

senior royals. “I was totally excluded, totally exhausted and the photos went on and on. I

blubbed my eyes out,” she later said.

There are traditions for royal babies being christened — the baby will wear the Royal

Christening Robe, a replica of the original Honiton lace gown commissioned by Queen

Victoria for her firstborn Victoria, Princess Royal, in 1841. It was subsequently worn by 62

royal babies, until it wore out and a replica made in 2008.

The baby will also be baptised from the Lily Font — a silver font also commissioned by Queen

Victoria and used ever since.

Meghan Markle and her friend Jessica Mulroney — one of the top contenders for the role of godparent for the royal child. Picture: Instagram
Meghan Markle and her friend Jessica Mulroney — one of the top contenders for the role of godparent for the royal child. Picture: Instagram

Godparents

Like William and Catherine have chosen, it is expected Harry and Meghan will

select around five friends to act as godparents. While George had seven godparents

including Zara Tindall, Charlotte and Louis had five each. Contenders include Meghan’s

friends Jessica Mulroney and Serena Williams, George and Amal Clooney and Harry’s long-

time buddies Tom Inskip and Jake Warren. It is unlikely William or Catherine will be

godparents, as Harry is not a godparent to their children, already being their uncle.

Originally published as The royal baby: Everything you need to know about Meghan and Harry’s big day

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