Meghan Markle pregnant: Duke and Duchess of Sussex expecting a baby

MEGHAN Markle has announced to the world she is pregnant with Harry’s baby. And the Queen has now publicly reacted to the news.

MEGHAN Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is pregnant with her first child and will give birth in the British spring next year.

The confirmation ends days of speculation about whether the 37-year-old and Prince Harry, 34, were about to become parents.

In a statement, Kensington Palace said: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.

“Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”

Spring in the UK will begin on March 20 and will run through until June 21. The new baby will be seventh in line for the throne — royals behind the child in the line of succession will all be bumped down the line, including Prince Andrew and his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The announcement came just as the eyes of the world were on the royal couple as they touched down in Sydney to begin their first overseas tour together.

It also comes nearly five months to the day that they were married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. British media are reporting the Queen and other royals learned about the pregnancy on Friday, when the family were all gathered for Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019. pic.twitter.com/Ut9C0RagLk

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) October 15, 2018

Baby clue? The Duchess wore a green leather skirt, showing a small bump, during her tour of Sussex.

Royal watchers began speculating Meghan was pregnant when she appeared at the wedding in a long, loose fitting coat. The rumours ramped up yesterday when the she emerged from her flight from the UK to Sydney holding large purple folders in front of her stomach as she walked hand-in-hand with Prince Harry.

There had been a suggestion Meghan wouldn’t travel as intended to Tonga and Fiji, where there is zika virus present, but a palace spokesman told Britain’s Daily Mirror she would travel there as planned after seeking “medical advice about the risk of the zika virus on the islands of Fiji and Tonga”.

Pregnant women are recommended not travel to areas affected by the zika epidemic unless absolutely essential.

The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said they were “delighted” for the couple in a joint statement.

The social media reaction has been intense with many noting Meghan is already exuding a “pregnancy glow”.

Meghan has the glow to add to her personal beauty! So happy for her and Prince Harry! They are a lovely couple and will make lovely parents!❤️🕊 https://t.co/kVptyonBlo

— Candy Wilson (@myatt51905) October 15, 2018

Ooff I actually get tears of seeing the happiness in Meghan Markles eyes. Seeing her grow from a tv show (my fave show) and watching her glow! And now a royal baby!!! Love it. #MeghanMarkle #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/q0dF1bLgVb

— S (@xhabeshaqueen) October 15, 2018

Meghan Markle is pregnant with her first child.

The couple are said to be thrilled with the news they are going to be parents.

Meghan and Harry arrive in Sydney, with the Duchess holding large folders in front of her stomach.

Royal sources told News Corp’s The Sun Meghan’s mother Doria may move to London from the United States to help the newlyweds with the baby.

Meghan doesn’t want to hire staff or a nanny, and will instead depend on her mum, reported The Sun.

A statement from Ms Ragland read she was “very happy at this lovely news and is looking forward to welcoming her first grandchild”. But Kensington Palace tonight refused to say whether Meghan’s dad Thomas — who she hasn’t seen or spoken with since her wedding — had been told about the news.

Thomas told ITV’s Good Morning Britain after the Duke and Duchess married: “She’s wanted children for a long time and when she met Harry and she spoke about how much she loves him, there’s got to be a child in the making, somewhere soon.”

The couple were married on May 19, with the pregnancy announcement coming just 21 weeks and two days after their nuptials. That was much quicker than he announcement of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge’s first pregnancy which was 83 weeks and three days after their wedding at Westminster Abbey.

AUSTRALIA VISIT BEGINS

Yesterday they were spotted strolling through the grounds of Admiralty House, the Governor-General’s Sydney residence, on their first day in Australia before the royal couple’s highly anticipated tour officially kicks off.

A long-lensed camera captured the Duke and Duchess of Sussex walking hand-in-hand along the grass at the Governor-General’s sprawling harbourside mansion.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in the grounds of Admiralty House on Monday. Picture: Matrix.

The royals, and their entourage flew into Sydney Airport early this morning and were escorted by an impressive security contingent across the city to Admiralty House.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s first official royal tour will include time in Sydney, Melbourne, Dubbo and Fraser Island, as well as other Commonwealth countries, including Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.

Meghan has never been to Australia before but she has previously holidayed in New Zealand when she was an actor on the hit show Suits.

The couple has a stacked itinerary which includes public picnics, farm visits and a “Fluoro Friday” for mental health, but are predominantly here for the Invictus Games.

The new royal baby will probably take the surname Sussex — which would be in line with how Prince William’s children, George, Charlotte and Louis have all taken Cambridge as their last name.

Queen Elizabeth with Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex after the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York.

Harry and Meghan Markle were married in a spectacular ceremony in May which was watched by millions of people around the world.

PARENTHOOD

Both Meghan and Harry have spoken about their desire to have children.

In Northern Ireland recently Meghan joked “I’m sure at some point we’ll need the whole lot” when looking at baby clothing.

She had previously said becoming a mother was on her “bucket list”.

Prince Harry, who is an uncle to three and godfather to five children, has previously said watching Prince William start a family made him long for the same thing as well.

“Of course I would love to have kids right now but there’s a process that one has to go through and tours like this are great fun,” Harry said.

“Hopefully I’m doing all right by myself. It would be great to have someone else next to me to share the pressure, but you know, time will come and whatever happens, happens.”

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