Meghan and Harry to skip post hospital photo opp

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made a “personal decision” to not follow royal custom when they welcome their first child.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will keep the birth of their first born private until they have had an opportunity to celebrate as a family.

Kensington Palace announced today that the royal couple, who are expected to welcome their first child together this month, have made the “personal decision” to avoid the public eye.

In a statement the palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby.

“Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won’t be making a public appearance following the birth of their first child. Picture: Kirsty Wigglesworth / POOL / AFP

“The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”

It comes just days after it was reported that Meghan has royally snubbed the Queen’s doctors in the lead up to the birth of her first child, as she doesn’t want the “men in suits” to deliver her baby, reports claim.

In the final days of her pregnancy, Meghan, 37, has appointed her own delivery team, led by a female doctor.

The royal household’s gynaecologists Alan Farthing and Guy Thorpe-Beeston, who specialises in high-risk childbirth, were present at the births of all three of William and Kate’s children.

But, despite being two of the best in the business, the pair have been denied a leading role in the delivery of Harry’s baby.

Their decision contrasts with William and Kate, who have posed for photos after the birth of all three of their children. Picture: AFP PHOTO/Isabel INFANTES

It comes after reports Meghan has hired her own female doctor to oversee the birth. Picture: Chris Jackson — WPA Pool/Getty Images

According to royal protocol, the doctors cannot be excluded from the process entirely, and should anything go wrong in the birth they will be present to step in.

A royal source told the Mail on Sunday: “Meghan said she doesn’t want the men in suits. She was adamant that she wanted her own people. It did leave a few of us a little baffled.”

The Sun revealed that the Duchess of Sussex is expected to break a four-decade royal tradition by shunning the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London.

Royal correspondent for The Sun Emily Andrews reported that the mum-to-be wants a more private, normal birth and to bond with her baby without the pressure of looking picture perfect.

This story first appeared on The Sun and has been republished here with permission