The birth of Harry and Meghan’s baby was anything but conventional. After the couple issued the statement they would be keeping the arrival private, weeks of speculation followed that Meghan had already had a home birth in secret.
But on May 6, a jubilant Prince Harry emerged to announce that his wife had given birth to a healthy baby boy at London’s Portland Hospital. Here are all the juicy details
on how they spent the first days with little Master Archie.
WATCH!
HOW THEY KEPT THE BIRTH SUITE PRIVATE
After shunning the royal tradition of a birth at the Lindo Wing followed by a public photoshoot, Harry and Meghan made it clear they would do things differently.
On Sunday, Meghan was secretly whisked to Portland Hospital and her labour was not announced until after she’d given birth. The entrance via an underground tunnel made the Portland ideal for privacy and they were able to arrive and depart without being spotted by onlookers.
INSIDE THE LUXURY HOSPITAL WHERE BABY WAS BORN
Reportedly costing a whopping $37,000 a night, the Portland’s 36 private rooms are a favourite among the rich and famous including Meghan’s pal Victoria Beckham, Jools Oliver, Jerry Hall and Tana Ramsay. Not only are the suites lavishly decorated, but meals are delivered on silver platters, there’s 24-hour room service, afternoon tea and complimentary photographs and post-natal physiotherapy.
FIRST NIGHT AT FROGMORE
Avoiding the usual photocall and public displays, the Sussexes managed to afford
a more low-key first night with their newborn at their home in Frogmore. “Harry and Meghan are quietly enjoying private time at Frogmore Cottage with their new son,” British royal commentator Omid Scobie said. “I’m told their first night as a family of three was peaceful and emotional,” he added.
HOW THEIR SON WILL BE RAISED
He’s set to become the most famous baby in the world, with stories about the latest addition to the House of Windsor filling newspapers, magazines, social media and TV programs right across the globe.
Incredibly, baby Archie is seventh in line to the throne but has not been given a royal title.
“Whatever happens, the baby will be a thoroughly modern kid for the 21st century,” says Harry’s biographer Duncan Larcombe. “Harry has said in the past that he wants his children to enjoy relatively normal lives.
“He and Meghan may feel the best way to protect the first one is not to give them a royal ‘HRH’ title.”
This worked well for Princess Anne’s son and daughter, Peter and Zara, who have carved out their own careers and not been working royals.
Meghan has already said that she feels “the embryonic kicking of feminism” in her womb and hopes her child
is a feminist.
But speculation that the couple plan to give their tot a ‘gender-neutral’ upbringing have been played down by Buckingham Palace.
Sources have dismissed reports Meghan will recruit a doula, a non-medical assistant who provides support in the early weeks of motherhood, but she and Harry are likely to employ a traditional nanny like Maria Borrallo, the Norland-trained nanny who looks after William and Kate’s three children.
There have also been talks of them hiring the Clooneys’ nanny Connie Simpson.
Meghan, who has been consulting her mum and friends, including Amal Clooney and Jessica Mulroney, wants to be a ‘hands-on’ parent along with Prince Harry and is said to be opting for books instead of iPads and at least two hours of cuddle time a day.
HEADING OVERSEAS
Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland is expected to spend time in Windsor helping out, but reports that she is moving permanently to England are wide of the mark.
“But one thing is for certain – the baby will soon have a starring role,” Phil Dampier, author of Royally Suited, Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words, has said.
“I would put money on the child accompanying Harry and Meghan on a tour to the US and Canada later this year and becoming an instant star!”
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