NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
NewIdea
  • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • News
  • Beauty & Style
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Travel
  • Home & Away
  • Podcasts
  • Win
  • Video
Subscribe
Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Royal baby announcement: 'Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well'

Royal baby news: Meghan Markle to be INDUCED?

Royal baby is COMING! Prince Harry cancels trip to Amsterdam next week ahead of birth

Royal baby UPDATE: Prince Harry could MISS the birth of his first child!

{headline}

{headline}

10 reasons WHY Meghan Markle may have already given birth

Has Baby Sussex ARRIVED? Queen pays Harry and Meghan surprise visit

THIS is where you will see the first photo of Harry & Meghan's baby

{headline}

{headline}

Harry and Meghan eyeing up luxury love nest in the English countryside

Harry and Meghan eyeing up luxury love nest in the English countryside

Meghan's fairytale nursery

WATCH: Meghan's makeup artist friend BREAKS DOWN in tears defending the royal

WATCH: Meghan's makeup artist friend BREAKS DOWN in tears defending the royal

‘Something is happening in Windsor’: tweet sends royal fans into overdrive

‘Something is happening in Windsor’: tweet sends royal fans into overdrive

Doria Ragland: Who is the royal baby’s other grandmother?

Doria Ragland: Who is the royal baby’s other grandmother?

Did Prince Harry just CONFIRM Meghan Markle has given birth?

Did Prince Harry just reveal Meghan Markle's ACTUAL due date?

  1. Home
  2. Royals

10 UNBELIEVABLE facts about royal births

Seriously wild! - by Kietley Isrin
  • 10 Feb 2021

Now that the wait is over for the arrival of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's baby boy, here are 10 facts about royal births:

WATCH: Royal children steal the show at Princess Eugenie's wedding!

1. Surgery at home

The Queen – then Princess Elizabeth – was born by Caesarean section in 1926. But the surgery took place in her grandparents’ home in Mayfair, rather than in a hospital.

2. An NHS first

Lady Louise Windsor was the first of the Queen’s grandchildren to be born in an NHS hospital. She arrived prematurely following an emergency Caesarean after a seriously-ill eight months pregnant Countess of Wessex was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey.

 

k

Duchess Catherine and baby Louis.

Getty

3. Natural births

The Duchess of Cambridge had a natural birth with all three of her children at the exclusive Lindo Wing – and a team of 23 medical staff were on hand in case of emergencies.

4. Kitchen delivery

The Duke of Edinburgh, then Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark, was born on the kitchen table at his family home Mon Repos in Corfu.

meg

Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and baby Archie in 2019.

Getty

5. Smuggled substitutes

Prince Charles’s birth in 1948 was the first time in centuries that there was not a government minister there to witness the arrival of a future heir to the throne. It was an age-old custom designed to ensure that no substitute baby had been smuggled in in a warming pan or similar receptacle.

6. The shadow side of marriage

Queen Victoria – who had nine offspring – used to refer to childbearing as “the shadow side of marriage” or “die Schattenseite”.

Her first babies were born before anaesthetics were available.

The Duchess of Cambridge, with newborn Prince George and the Duke of Cambridge, had a natural birth with her children

Following in the footsteps of Princess Diana, Duchess Catherine gave birth to her children at St Mary's Hospital's Lindo Wing.

Jonathan Brady/PA

7. Battles over birth pain

Victoria used chloroform for later births, sniffing it from a handkerchief. When it was first pioneered, traditionalists opposed the drug, claiming labour pain was responsible for a woman’s love for her child, and sufferings during childbirth were a divine destiny.

But Victoria refused to believe such a notion, and her support for the “blessed” method and its “soothing, quieting and delightful beyond measure” effect ensured its accepted use in society.

med

Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor at his first royal outing in 2019.

Getty

8. Induced births

The Princess of Wales was induced with Prince William, with Diana telling friends her baby was ready and “well cooked”. Her labour was difficult and she was continually sick, with doctors considering a Caesarean. Future king William was eventually born without a C-section after the princess was given an epidural.

9. Noisy crowds

After William arrived at the Lindo Wing in 1982, new father the Prince of Wales asked the rapturous crowds outside the hospital if they could make a little less noise.

The Prince and Princess of Wales following the birth of their second son, Prince Harry (PA)

Prince Charles and Princess Diana with newborn Prince Harry.

PA

10. Secret scans

In 1984, Diana knew Prince Harry was going to be a boy following a scan. But she did not tell husband Charles, fearing he wanted a girl, and kept the news secret throughout her pregnancy.

  • Royals
  • News
  • Royal Baby
Kietley Isrin

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Subscribe to New Idea today

Subscribe Now
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!

Recommended to you

Home and Away opening title
Watch 1:09

Home and Away opening title

{headline}

{headline}

Royal baby announcement: 'Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well'

Royal baby news: Meghan Markle to be INDUCED?

Royal baby is COMING! Prince Harry cancels trip to Amsterdam next week ahead of birth

Royal baby UPDATE: Prince Harry could MISS the birth of his first child!

{headline}

{headline}

10 reasons WHY Meghan Markle may have already given birth

Has Baby Sussex ARRIVED? Queen pays Harry and Meghan surprise visit

THIS is where you will see the first photo of Harry & Meghan's baby

{headline}

{headline}

Harry and Meghan eyeing up luxury love nest in the English countryside

Harry and Meghan eyeing up luxury love nest in the English countryside

Meghan's fairytale nursery

WATCH: Meghan's makeup artist friend BREAKS DOWN in tears defending the royal

WATCH: Meghan's makeup artist friend BREAKS DOWN in tears defending the royal

‘Something is happening in Windsor’: tweet sends royal fans into overdrive

‘Something is happening in Windsor’: tweet sends royal fans into overdrive

Doria Ragland: Who is the royal baby’s other grandmother?

Doria Ragland: Who is the royal baby’s other grandmother?

Did Prince Harry just CONFIRM Meghan Markle has given birth?

Did Prince Harry just reveal Meghan Markle's ACTUAL due date?

NewIdea
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions
NewIdea Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Competitions

Brands

  • Girlfriend
  • New Idea food
  • Practical Parenting
  • That’s Life
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from New Idea

Magazine Subscription Offer

Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!-SAVE 79%

Shop This Offer
Just $6 for 6 issues delivered!