Everything You Need to Know About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Baby

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.

Meghan is due this spring.

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.

 

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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. ?PA

A post shared by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Oct 15, 2018 at 12:40am PDT

 

Harry and Meghan went to Zika-prone countries on their tour, but they took all the precautions.

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.

 

A spokesman said there is no change to their programme in Fiji and Tonga next week despite FCO advice that pregnant women should not travel to the region because of its moderate zika risk.
They said they had sought medical and advice and decided to go ahead with their plans.

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) October 15, 2018

 

There’s already speculation on what the name will be.

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.

 

Bookmakers Ladbrokes make Samantha a 100-1 outside bet for the royal baby name. Most bookies make traditional royal names eg Alice, Arthur, Philip, Victoria - and, of course, Diana - their early favourites.

— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) October 15, 2018

 

They spilled the beans at Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

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.

Meghan and Harry plan on raising their kids in the country.

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.”

People think Meghan is hinting at her due date with her rings.

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:

 

Im hoping Meghan’s stacked rings represent their birthstones and Baby Sussex is an April baby.
Meghan’s birthstone-green peridot
Baby Sussex birthstone-diamond
Harry’s birthstone-blue sapphire pic.twitter.com/VBB9qjGlVi

— A R I A (@DuchyofSuccess) October 20, 2018

 

That would mean the royal baby would be due in April, but it’s just a piece of jewelry, so who knows?

People are also assuming the baby will be a girl.

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.

Harry and Meghan plan on not spoiling their kid.

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.”

Meghan's considering a home birth, skipping the famous Lindo Wing photo.

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!

Meghan's feeling “very pregnant” these days.

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.

 

Video: “I’m looking very pregnant today” laughs #Meghan #DuchessofSussex as she meets some of the residents @RoyalVariety Brinsworth House. The nursing and care home looks after those who’ve worked in the entertainment industry pic.twitter.com/w2cY0zSi4I

— Emily Andrews (@byEmilyAndrews) December 18, 2018

 

She’s due in April!

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 is using a doula.

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.

She and Harry are getting very high-tech about the nursery.

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.”

They won't be hiring a nanny.

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’s reportedly learning some alternative birthing techniques.

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.

The baby is a boy (reportedly)!!

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.