What The Queen Said About The Birth Of Harry And Meghan's Baby
Congratulations are in order for Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle!
When the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first child, a baby boy, in the early morning hours of Monday, May 6, 2019, it seemed as though the entire world had chimed in on the exciting royal baby news — including Queen Elizabeth II herself.
According to a statement released by the royal family via Instagram, the queen — who, of course, is the grandmother of Prince Harry — is "delighted with the news" of her new great-grandson's birth. In addition to Prince Harry's father, Prince Charles, older brother Prince William, and sister-in-law Duchess Kate Middleton, the siblings of late mother Princess Diana, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, and Earl Spencer, were also "informed" about the little one's arrival prior to this public announcement and are equally thrilled.
At the time of this writing, the former Suits actress' estranged father, Thomas Markle, has yet to publicly comment on the baby Sussex news. However, the British royals revealed that Meghan Markle's mother, Doria Ragland, is not only "overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild," but is also currently "with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage."
As Nicki Swift previously reported, Markle, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, first revealed that they were expecting baby no. 1 in October 2018. The royal couple famously tied the knot at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle just months earlier that May. After sharing her pregnancy news, Markle showed off her growing baby bump during a royal outing in January 2019, where she revealed that her first child was due in late April or early May. Rebecca English of the Daily Mail tweeted at the time, "Meghan said she didn't know whether they were having a boy or a girl. She said she wants it to be a surprise!"
While Markle and Prince Harry have largely kept their baby preparations under wraps, a source cited by Us Weekly earlier this year revealed that the soon-to-be-parents had been keeping busy scouting out hospitals for the delivery. The insider claimed that the married pair's top choice was their local Frimley Park Hospital, saying, "It will be much less chaos and more of a private event than if she gives birth in London [at high-profile St. Mary's Hospital] like Kate did." Readers may remember the media circus that surrounded the arrival Kate Middleton and Prince William's third child, son Prince Louis, in April 2018.
While it's currently unknown whether Markle delivered her first child at said local hospital or at her Frogmore Cottage home, the royal family's recent statement did shed some light on her son's birth. "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs this morning," the statement read in part. "The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz. The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth ... Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well."
At the time of this writing, not much else is known about the British royals' newest member. However, it sounds like we won't have to wait too long to find out more as the new parents stated via Instagram that "more details will be shared in the forthcoming days."
Meanwhile, Prince Harry himself personally spoke with the press outside of Windsor Castle on the morning of May 6, 2019. "It's been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine," the proud dad said with a laugh (via Sky News). "How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. But we're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful to all the love and support from everybody out there."
"Still thinking about names," he went on to say. "The baby's a little bit overdue so we've had a little bit of time to think about it ... That's the next bit." Noting that the family of three are expected to make their first public appearance together later this week "so everyone can see the baby," the Duke of Sussex added, "I'm so incredibly proud of my wife. And as every father and parent would ever say, you know, your baby is absolutely amazing, but this little thing is absolutely to die for. So I'm just over the moon."
We couldn't be happier for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! Congrats again to the royal couple on their exciting baby news!