Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are officially expecting their first baby!! Because keeping up with the news is hard, here’s everything you need to know about the future Lord or Lady Mountbatten-Windsor (more on that title below) in easy-to-use cheat-sheet form.
As of the announcement day (October 15), Meghan was 12 weeks along in her pregnancy, and she was feeling “quite well” after her 12-week scans. She’ll give birth in the spring, probably around April, which means that her baby and Prince Louis will only be a year apart in age.
The announcement came while Meghan and Harry were literally on the plane to their first royal tour, and two of the countries they visited were Fiji and Tonga, which both had Zika virus. Apparently, they got medical advice before they left though, and with the help of doctors, they decided it was safe to go.
It’s practically a tradition at this point that people in England bet on the future royal baby’s name. As of right now, the top contenders for the new kiddo are super traditional, like Alice, Arthur, Philip, Victoria, and Diana. One name definitely not in the running? Samantha, the name of Meghan's half-sister.
In slightly awkward news, it turns out that Meghan and Harry actually told his family they were having a baby *at* Princess Eugenie’s wedding, which is like...weird. But hey, when you’re excited, you’re excited!
The child won't be a prince or a princess unless Queen Elizabeth makes an exception.
Harry and Meghan’s children will fall right behind him in the order of succession, making this baby seventh in line for the throne when it comes. Whether it’s a girl or a boy, it won’t have the prince or princess title because of a rule created in 1917.
Basically, Prince Harry’s kids will be too far removed from Queen Elizabeth to have the Royal Highness title. But she could step in and change that if she wanted.
The rest of the royal fam is very pumped about it.
Kate Middleton and Prince William, unsurprisingly, are really pumped for Meghan and Harry. Actually, the exact word was delighted, according to a source.
Queen Elizabeth is also “delighted for the couple,” and Meghan's mother Doria is “very happy” to be a grandma. S’cute!
There was actually some controversy over the announcement.
Meghan and Harry chose to announce their news on October 15, which is actually International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. It’s a day to recognise pregnancy loss and infant death due to SIDS, miscarriage, and stillbirth. People on Twitter were not too happy that the most high-profile baby announcement of the year came on that day of all days.
According to a source who spoke to Us Weekly, Meghan and Harry don’t plan on raising their kids in the hustle and bustle of London. Instead, they like the idea of living at their home in the Cotswolds, which is about two hours outside the city. “No one bothers them there,” the source said. “They’re excited to raise children in the country.”
One very observant royal fan on Twitter pointed out that during a recent royal engagement, it looked like Meghan was wearing a ring with three different birthstones on it.
And here’s what that person’s theory was:
That would mean the royal baby would be due in April, but it’s just a piece of jewelry, so who knows?
For basically no reason at all, people around the world think Meghan and Harry are having a girl. One person during the royal tour actually told Harry, “I’m predicting it’s going to be a boy,” and Harry laughed, responding with “Everyone is predicting it’s going to be a girl.” Again, there’s no proof that this is actually true, but that’s what people are speculating.
During an earlier stop on the tour, Harry even revealed that he *wants* it to be a girl. Someone told him “I hope it’s a girl,” and he said “So do I,” which is really sweet and adorable and very Harry of him.
According to royal expert Omid Scobie, Meghan and Harry intend to “bring up children who know the values of normal things in life.” Like, they’re going to make sure they’re as close to regs people as royal life will allow. “Meghan will take her kids on a subway. They’ll have chores and jobs one day,” Scobie told Us Weekly. “They won’t be spoiled.”
A source who spoke with Vanity Fair said that Meghan is thinking of skipping the legendary Lindo Wing photo op after she gives birth. The reason? She might not even have the baby in London. Apparently, they might have the baby in Windsor, where they’ll be living at the time. That makes total sense, but it’d be a major departure from how Kate and Diana delivered their kids.
But! In a quick plot twist, in January, a different source told The Telegraph, “Staff at the Lindo Wing have been asked not to take holiday in April. Everyone thinks it’s got something to do with the royal baby but no one is confirming anything.” That seems like pretty compelling evidence that the photo op might happen. TBD!
At a recent solo outing, Meghan joked with an elderly woman that although she’s doing “very good,” she’s also feeling “very pregnant.” High-key relatable, TBH.
At an event on January 14, Meghan reportedly revealed to one woman in the crowd that she was six months pregnant and told another woman that she’s due in April. Mark your calendars!!
Meghan isn’t about to do this whole birth thing without the help of some trained experts. Apparently, she’s been using a doula during her pregnancy, who has come to her home “multiple times,” according to Us Weekly. “Meghan is focused on calm and positive energy around the birth—she’s a big believer in that,” the source said.
Not only is it decked out with vegan paint, but Meghan and Harry’s nursery will also have cameras, a stereo system, and security windows.
“They are going all out with the refurbishment of the house, and as Harry loves his gadgets, it’s going to be very cool,” a source told Vanity Fair. “They’ll be able to control everything from their smartphones.”
Unlike Will and Kate, Meghan and Harry won’t be hiring a nanny or nurse at first. Instead, they’re going to rely on Meghan’s mom Doria.
Meghan has been getting ready for the baby by learning hyno-birthing, which is a technique specializing in “special breathing, relaxation, visualization, meditative practice, attention to nutrition and positive body toning” to help moms give birth. She’s also been attending regular acupuncture sessions.
Meghan and Harry have apparently been telling their friends they’re having a boy, which makes sense considering Meghan’s friend Abigail Spencer walked into Meghan’s baby shower carrying two separate baby gifts wrapped in blue.
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Emma Baty is a news writer at Cosmopolitan who focuses on celebrity news, royal news, and all things pop culture.
Credit: Cosmopolitan