The one surprising royal rule Harry and Meghan are following

She might be a bit of a royal rule breaker, but there’s one custom Meghan is probably following when it comes to her pregnancy.

Right. Some things that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex absolutely know: How to chug vodka out of a prosthetic leg (him); how to arrange a bunch of peonies so they sing (her); how to drink for 24 hours without throwing up into your mate Bunter’s castle’s moat (him); and how to do a killer Praying Mantis pose (her or him after three pints and a dare from Bunter).

One thing the couple most likely does not know: If they are about to have a boy or a girl.

As the clock ticks down to the Big Day, when the newest, tiniest Windsor will arrive in the world to be met by a wall of photographers, a 41 canon salute and Prince Charles’s middling curiosity, the chances are the newlyweds themselves are still in the dark about the sex of their baby.

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Despite the rumours, Meghan probably doesn’t know if she’s having a boy or a girl. Picture: TREVOR ADAMS / MATRIXPICTURES.CO.UK

This comes down to the same reason Prince Philip has to walk behind the Queen, the Duchess of Cambridge buys nude tights in bulk on eBay and why every July some poor footmen has to row along the Thames counting Her Maj’s swans: Decades (if not centuries) of fusty royal tradition.

That’s because, according to the BBC, the Queen and her family do not generally find out the sex of an unborn HRH during the pregnancy. Rather, whether it’s a boy or a girl is a charming surprise for the happy couple and the more than 20 people on standby in the delivery room with them (which is how many medical staff Kate had poised for action during her deliveries).

Then, via an encrypted phone call from the hospital, Her Maj will be the first person to find out the gender and name of the newest person to go on the Sandringham Christmas card list. (This is all very 007 really.)

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The couple have likely not found out the sex of their unborn child because of royal custom. Picture: TREVOR ADAMS / MATRIXPICTURES.CO.UK

Forget Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland, Queen Elizabeth will be the first to find out the name and sex of the Sussex baby. Picture: Toby Melville — WPA Pool/Getty Images

MORE: Meghan breaks with royal tradition followed by Diana and Kate for birth

At that point, an official announcement about the birth will be signed by hospital staff, driven to Buckingham Palace under armed escort (seriously) and the news will be popped on a gilt-framed easel that will sit near the Palace gates.

(The only time this historic procedure was deviated from was with the birth of Princess Charlotte whose arrival was announced via Twitter in 2015.)

With all three of her pregnancies, Kate and Wills opted to not find out the gender of their new sprogs, instead waiting to be surprised.

Punters in the UK seem convinced that the Sussexes are set to have a little girl, with the odds dramatically shortening recently after one person put a “significant” wager on the newlyweds having a lass.

A royal rebel, Diana is said to have found out the gender beforehand in both her pregnancies with Harry and William. Picture: Tim Graham/Getty Images

While it is widely believed that Hazza and Megs themselves don’t know just what they are having, there are some clues that they are keen for it to be a girl too. During their 2018 tour Down Under, a woman shouted at Harry, “I hope it is a girl!” to which the Ginger Charmer replied, “So do I!”

Let’s also not forget that on International Women’s Day, with Our Julia (Gillard) by her side, the former actress told the rapt audience she felt “the embryonic kicking of feminism,” though to be fair, that does not mean she is not having a boy. Some of the best feminists I know are blokes.

While Kate and William are believed to have stuck to the rules and not found out until afterwards. Picture: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

However, there was one royal who is said to have bucked royal tradition and known the sex of her unborn babies: Diana. It is widely believed that during her pregnancies with Princes William and Harry, Kensington Palace’s most controversial resident ignored the Queen’s stance and found out whether she should stock up on wee shorts or pastel smocked frocks.

Either, way for Harry and Meghan, it doesn’t matter. Their Frogmore House nursery is reported to be decorated in up in 49 shades of non-gender specific grey.

Daniela Elser is a royal expert and freelance writer. Continue the conversation @DanielaElser