Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has given birth to her first child with Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, the royal family has shared. The royal baby is the first child for both Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, and will be seventh in line to the throne. It is the Queen’s eighth great-grandchild.
“The Duchess went into labour in the early hours of this morning. The Duke of Sussex was by Her Royal Highnesses’ side. An announcement will be made soon,” a statement from Buckingham Palace announced Monday morning. Shortly after, they shared on Instagram that the couple had welcomed a baby boy. “We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019. Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz,” the announcement noted. “The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives.”
Prince Harry confirmed the birth, appearing live for cameras on Monday.
“It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever possibly imagine,” the Duke of Sussex said. “How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension, but we’re both absolutely thrilled.” He added that they have not yet finalized a name.
The Duke of Sussex announces his wife has given birth to a baby boy.
Follow the latest on the #royalbaby here: https://t.co/8KSPsa3ufS pic.twitter.com/xE4qo9Ct3v
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 6, 2019
The palace also confirmed that all the other immediate royal family members had been notified of the birth and are “delighted with the news.” Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, was shared to also be “overjoyed,” and is with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at their home of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer have been informed and are delighted with the news.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage.
Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well.— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on
The Duchess of Sussex went into labour in the early hours of this morning.
The Duke of Sussex was by Her Royal Highnesses’ side. An announcement will be made soon.https://t.co/hFq0te2Owe— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first announced Markle’s pregnancy in October, following their royal wedding in May 2018.
Markle and Prince Harry chose to keep their birth plans private, announcing in April that they would be celebrating the birth as a new family before “sharing the exciting news with everyone.” While that choice is a departure from the approach of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, who made their children’s births public, it’s not such a radical shift from royal tradition.
Markle and Prince Harry have made Frogmore Cottage at the Windsor estate outside of London their primary residence. Partially because of this, Markle was expected to opt for a different approach than Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, who gave birth to all three of her children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — at St. Mary’s Hospital’s Lindo Wing in London.
Speculation that the birth was impending began when Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, flew from the U.S. to the U.K. in April. Markle herself was notably absent from an Easter service earlier in April, suggesting the baby was imminent. Prince Harry, meanwhile, attended the London Marathon to cheer on runners at the end of April.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex traveled to Morocco on an official state visit back in late February, and have made a number of public appearances during Markle’s final stretch of her pregnancy upon their return to the U.K. before April.
You can follow along here as you await further updates on all the latest news on Meghan Markle’s first royal baby.
