Meghan Markle in labour ahead of birth of royal baby

The heavily pregnant Duchess of Sussex is now in labour ahead of the imminent birth of her and Prince Harry’s first child.

Royal watchers, it’s time to get excited: Baby Sussex is now officially on the way.

Meghan Markle went into labour in the early hours of Monday morning, with Prince Harry at her side, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

“The Duchess went into labour in the early hours of this morning,” the Palace said on Monday afternoon local time. “An announcement will be made soon.”

The Duchess of Sussex went into labour in the early hours of this morning.
The Duke of Sussex was by Her Royal Highnesses’ side. An announcement will be made soon.https://t.co/hFq0te2Owe

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019

The couple’s first child will be seventh in line to the throne, and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland has been staying with her at her home of Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate in the lead-up to the birth.

While there is speculation the long-awaited child could be a girl, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen not to find out their baby’s gender in advance.

There is speculation building on social media that Baby Sussex could already be born.

Despite a high profile announcement of their pregnancy at the beginning of their Australian tour in October, Meghan and Harry have opted to keep the birth plans under wraps.

Until today, the exact due date of the royal baby had remained shrouded in mystery, with the Palace simply announcing it would be in the British springtime.

With Meghan having taken maternity leave after her final public engagement on March 19, and hinting last December that she was due in “late April”, feverish excitement has been building for days.

In an earlier statement released via Buckingham Palace, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed they would not be posing for photos just hours after Meghan gives birth.

Meghan Markle is in labour. Picture: Tim P. Whitby — Pool/Getty Images

“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.

“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.”

The decision not to publicly announce their child’s birth or pose for photos contrasts with other royal couples.

Earlier the royal couple said they would be keeping the birth of their first child under wraps. Picture: Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP

Prince William and Kate Middleton have posed for the waiting press pack outside the Lindo Wing just hours after the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to all three of their children.

UK media has also reported that Meghan has appointed her own delivery team led by a female doctor.

The move means the Duchess has snubbed the royal household’s gynaecologists Alan Farthing and Guy Thorpe-Beeston, who are still obligated to be present at the birth due to protocol.

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.”