Meghan Markle Has Given Birth To A Baby Boy! Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The Royal Baby

From Harry and Meghan's plans after the birth to who will have custody of the royal baby (the answer isn't as straightforward as you think) here's everything we know so far...

Prince Harry Meghan Markle

by Emily Maddick |
Updated on

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have finally revealed their baby, who will be seventh in line to the throne, to the world. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed for photographers with their little boy on Wednesday lunchtime, after days of Baby Sussex mania.

Speaking in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Meghan said, 'It's magic, it's pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world so I'm really happy.' Asked how he found parenting, Harry said, 'It's great. Parenting is amazing. It's only been two and a half days, three days, but we're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.' Meghan added, 'He's just been the dream so it's been a special couple of days.'

It appears the new mum was wearing a Givenchy dress and Manolo Blahnik heels. There were only one reporter, one photographer, three cameramen - as well as the couple's own private photographer and a household press officer photographer - in attendance for the photocall.

The announcement Meghan had given birth was made via the Sussex Royal Instagram Account on Monday. The as yet unnamed boy was born in the early hours of 6th May, weighing 7lbs, 3oz. It is not yet known if Meghan Markle gave birth at home, or at nearby Frimley Park Hospital.

What does the royal baby look like?

See the photos from Wednesday's shoot below.

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All The Photos Of Baby Sussex

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Have Buckingham palace released a statement?

Buckingham Palace have released a statement confirming the birth: "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs.

"The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz.

"The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.

"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

From the moment Harry and Meghan announced they were expecting in Australia last October, the unborn Baby Sussex was being described as a ‘royal rule breaker’ on account of its Anglo-American heritage. They will also be the first biracial baby in line to the British throne.

One thing we know for sure is that Meghan and Harry are keen to raise their child out of the spotlight and this is one of the key reasons the couple relocated from Kensington Palace to Windsor. ‘Harry is fiercely protective of Meghan and will be the same with his child. He wants them to enjoy a life away from the spotlight,’ says royal author, Katie Nicholl.

What is Harry and Meghan's baby's name?

Arthur, Albert, Philip and James are all currently bookies' favourites for Baby Sussex's name - although Prince Harry has announced that they are still making up their minds, and will announce the name in due course.

What has Meghan Markle's dad said about the royal baby?

‘I’m delighted to hear that mother and child are doing well. I am proud that my new grandson is born into the British royal family and I am sure that he will grow up to serve the crown and the people of Britain with grace, dignity and honour,’ Thomas Markle told The Sun. ‘God bless the child and I wish him health and happiness, and my congratulations to my lovely daughter Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry — and God save the Queen.’

Why won’t the royal baby be a HRH?

Katie Nicholl also points out how as the couple are so keen to raise baby Sussex as a ‘normal’ child, it is unlikely he or any future siblings will have an HRH title. ‘They will most likely be following the same template Princess Anne used with Peter and Zara Phillips,’ she says.

But if they do choose to follow tradition, he will become Earl of Dumbarton, which is one of Harry’s lesser titles. The baby’s cousins, the Cambridge children, are all HRH. As third in line to the throne, Prince George is immediately an HRH, but following the birth of Princess Charlotte, the Queen intervened so that all his siblings would have the prefix of Prince or Princess.

[What will the royal baby's surname be? ](https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/meghan-harry-baby-surname/surname/)

At school Kate and William's children simply by the surname ‘Cambridge’, which is what the Sussex children will also be known as at school.

Who will have custody of the royal baby?

This sounds like a strange question to ask, but an obscure piece of royal protocol means that the queen has custody of all minor royals, including Harry and Meghan's children...

How will the royal baby be raised differently to William and Kate's children?

Our only real reference point for our Harry and Meghan will raise their children is Kate and William’s parenting style. But there is a very simple answer as to why Meghan and Harry won’t be following the same path as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and it’s all down to royal protocol. Here, we’ve explored all of the ways baby Sussex will be raised differently to our beloved Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte.

Read more: royal baby pictures from the last 100 years

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All The Royal Babies - Grazia

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Queen Elizabeth II

Born: 21st April 1926When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York was born in 1926, it was not expected that she would ever become Queen: she was third in line to the throne, only becoming heir presumptive after the abdication of her uncle.

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Princess Margaret

Born: 21st August 1930Margaret was born at Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of her mother's family, and the official registration of her birth was delayed a while to prevent her being listed 13th in the parish register.

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Prince Charles

Born: 14th November 1948The first child of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Charles was born at Buckingham Palace.

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Princess Anne

Born: 15th August 1950The Queen's only daughter was born at Clarence House; like her elder brother Charles, she was baptised in the music room at Buckingham Palace.

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Prince Andrew

Born: 19th February 1960Prince Andrew was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for nearly 100 years (since 1857, when Queen Victoria gave birth to her youngest, Princess Beatrice).

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David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowden

Born: 3rd November 1961Princess Margaret's eldest son, who was styled as Viscount Linley until the death of his father last year, can count the Queen among his godparents.

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Prince Edward

Born: 10th March 1964At the time of his birth, Prince Edward was third in line to the throne: as the Queen's third son, the succession laws dictated that he would come ahead of his older sister, Princess Anne. These rules have since been changed.

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Lady Sarah Chatto

Born: 1st May 1964The daughter of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones was born at Kensington Palace, and later christened at the private chapel in Buckingham Palace.

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Peter Phillips

Born: 15th November 1977Like Princes William, Harry and Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Peter Phillips (son of Princess Anne and her first husband) was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

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Zara Phillips

Born: 15th May 1981Like her older brother, Zara was born at the Lindo Wing; her name was reportedly a suggestion from her uncle, Prince Charles.

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Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Born: 21st June 1982William's name was not announced to the public until a week after his birth. He was baptised at Buckingham Palace on 4th August, the birthday of his great-grandmother.

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Prince Harry

Born: 15th September 1984Officially styled Prince Henry Charles Albert David, Harry was born at the Lindo Wing like his brother and cousins.

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Princess Beatrice of York

Born: 8th August 1988Beatrice, the Queen's fifth grandchild, was born at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London's West End.

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Princess Eugenie of York

Born: 23rd March 1990Like her sister, Eugenie was born at the Portland Hospital, and was baptised at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.

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Lady Louise Windsor

Born: 8th November 2003As a male-line grandchild of a monarch, Lady Louise would be styled as Princess, but upon the occasion of her father's marriage, a Buckingham Palace statement confirmed his children would be styled as the offspring of an earl.

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James, Viscount Severn

Born: 17th December 2007For the same reason, Prince Edward's son James is styled as Viscount Severn, one of his father's subsidiary titles, rather than as a Prince.

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Prince George

Born: 22nd July 2013Prince George was delivered at the Lindo Wing by the Queen's former gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell. His birth marks the second time that three generations of direct heirs to the throne have been alive at the same time.

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Princess Charlotte

Born: 2nd May 2015Changes to succession laws made before the birth of Prince George ensure that Princess Charlotte cannot be overtaken in succession by any younger brothers.

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Prince Louis

Born: 23rd April 2018 Prince Louis was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital, making him the third and youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and fifth in line of succession to the British throne.

Who will be in Meghan's support network?

Grazia has learnt that Meghan and Harry will be employing the services of a Hollywood nanny who will live with the couple for the next few months.

Sources claim that Meghan was recommended the nanny by her close friend Amal Clooney.

‘The nanny is highly sought-after in Hollywood and has worked with many A-listers, so is incredibly discreet.’ Meghan’s yoga instructor mother, Doria Ragland, has already flown over from LA to stay at Frogmore cottage and sources say the £3million renovations at the property included creating a room, earmarked specifically for the new grandmother.

In recent months, sources say Meghan has been relying heavily on her coterie of A-list friends, especially Mrs Clooney.

‘Amal is Meghan’s role model when it comes to juggling her work life with parenthood, keeping the children out of the spotlight and preparing for the birth. She has certainly been speaking to her a lot more than Kate Middleton,’ said a source. As Grazia has previously revealed, on recommendation from the Queen, Meghan has also been forging a friendship with Windsor neighbour and fellow royal, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Will Meghan Take Maternity Leave?

Royal author, Robert Jobson tells Grazia it is unlikely there will be pressure for Meghan to return to work before she’s ready. ‘There won’t be pressure from the Queen,’ he says, ‘But it will be likely she won’t take longer than six months which is what Kate took. I expect she will get back to work relatively quickly because of the way she is.’

Indeed, Nicholl says that courtiers have said there are already dates pencilled in Meghan’s diary for October, ‘They are not confirmed yet, but she is already planning her diary for October and is expected to attend a couple appointments that month.’

How will Harry and Meghan divide their time between London and Windsor?

One of the greatest challenges facing the couple in their new life is how they are going to manage their time. ‘It can take up to an hour and a half to get into central London from Windsor,’ says Nicholl, ‘and courtiers are already trying to work out how Meghan and Harry are going to divide their time. Juggling a home life with a new baby in Windsor and a court at Buckingham palace is going to be difficult. Also, all their charities head offices are in London, so this is one of the biggest challenges they face.’

How have Harry and Meghan made Frogmore Cottage ready for the new baby?

It has been reported that as part of the £3million renovations at Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry personally oversaw a state-of-the-art, high tech nursery complete with camera and video equipment. The 10-bedroom, Grade II listed property also now boasts a ‘floating mother and baby yoga studio’ (with a sprung floor) and an organic vegetable patch in the garden. The couple employed the services of Soho House interior designer, Vicky Charles, and have chosen a neutral palette of greys and whites for the nursery.

‘When it comes to dressing the baby, Meghan and Harry will not be adhering to traditional gender colours like pink for girls and blue for boys,’ says Katie Nicholl. ‘Meghan has told friends she wants a more gender-fluid approach.’

What will Harry and Meghan's baby's christening be like?

As the Queen is head of the Church of England, Jobson points out that a christening will definitely take place within the next few months. ‘It will probably be a more private event,’ he says. ‘More like Prince Louis’, as the Sussex child will only be seventh in line to the throne.’ Reports have suggested St. George’s Chapel at Windsor as the most likely venue, where the couple were married last May. The baby will wear the family christening gown, which is a replica of the lace and satin robe originally made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter in 1841.

Who will be the new royal baby’s godparents?

Given the A-list roster of guests at their wedding last year, it is little wonder that speculation is rife as to what famous names could be in the running for godparents. It is tradition for royal babies to have 5-8 godparents. While George Clooney last month laughed off the rumours that he might be chosen, (‘Oh yes, I’ll be the godfather of the royals apparently,’ he told press before stating, ‘no’,) both he and Amal remain favourites.

Also, high up on the list of contenders are Jessica and Ben Mulroney, whose twin boys, John and Brian, were page boys at the wedding. Jessica is Meghan’s closest friend and stylist, and she and her husband reportedly helped keep Harry and Meghan’s relationship a secret in the early days of their romance, allowing the couple to stay at their home in Toronto.

Serena Williams is also another strong candidate. The tennis ace has spoken out about her long-standing and close relationship with Meghan and was reported to have arranged her controversial £300,000 New York baby shower in February.

Less starry runners are some of Harry’s old pals, including Captain Mark Dyer, who acted as mentor to the Prince following Diana’s death. His son, Jasper is Harry’s godson and was also a pageboy at the wedding.

Harry’s childhood friend, Charlie van Straubenzee is also a favourite, (Harry was an usher at his wedding last summer) as is Meghan’s old friend, Benita Litt. Less likely names in the frame include James Blunt, Priyanka Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom Harry has recently launched a mental health initiative with.

Where will the royal baby go to school?

It has been reported that Harry and Meghan have been investigating sending their child to the formerly named American Community School in Windsor, which some are suggesting may be convenient if one day the family wanted to relocate to Meghan’s native USA. ‘It’s too soon to speculate about a move to the States, but an American school would certainly give them that option,’ says Nicholl. If the couple were to move to the States, Robert Jobson says it would not be impossible. ‘If that is something they wanted to do later down the line, I don’t see why they wouldn’t and they would certainly be allowed to,’ he says.

Are Harry and Meghan planning on taking the baby on a royal tour this year?

It has been reported that the couple intend to take their baby on a tour of the States and Canada in the Autumn, but at present nothing has been confirmed and according to sources it could be postponed until early 2020.

What questions is everybody Googling about the royal baby?

Look below!

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Here's Everything You Have Been Googling About The Royal Baby

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Where was the royal baby born?

Well, there are conflicting reports. It was firstly believed Meghan revived the royal tradition of giving birth at home by opting to stay at Frogmore Cottage with Prince Harry. (Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to all four of her children - Prince Charles, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward - at home.) Seemingly confirming the news, when Prince Harry spoke to Sky News after the announcement, it was outside Frogmore Cottage, which led to the natural conclusion that the birth happened at home. But that has since been disputed by various royal reporters. The Sun's Emily Andrews tweeted, 'We were led to believe by palace aides that baby Sussex was born at Frogmore Cottage, but in fact he arrived at private London hospital the Portland. All other details still the same! Can't wait to see a picture of him on Wednesday with his proud parents!'

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What are possible names for the royal baby?

Arthur, Albert, Philip and James are all currently bookies' favourites for Baby Sussex's name - although Prince Harry has announced that they are still making up their minds, and will announce the name in due course.

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Is the new royal baby a prince/will the new royal baby have a title?

As Grazia have already reported, royal author Katie Nicholl has pointed out how the couple are keen to raise baby Sussex as a 'normal' child. That means it's unlikely he or any future siblings will have an HRH title. 'They will most likely be following the same template Princess Anne used with Peter and Zara Phillips,' she says.But if they do choose to follow tradition, he will become Earl of Dumbarton, which is one of Harry's lesser titles. The baby's cousins, the Cambridge children, are all HRH. As third in line to the throne, Prince George is immediately an HRH, but following the birth of Princess Charlotte, the Queen intervened so that all his siblings would have the prefix of Prince or Princess.

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What time was the royal baby born?

This one's pretty easy to answer, actually. The baby was born early at 05:26 BST on May 6, as Buckingham Palace's birth announcement says.

Who delivered royal baby?5 of 7

Who delivered royal baby?

If we don't know exactly where the baby was born, then it's unlikely we know who delivered it! Sorry about that.

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Is the royal baby ginger?

There's no way to know for sure yet. But, given Prince Harry's ginger head of hair, it's a definitely a possibility! Redheads are only 2 per cent of the world's population, so it would make the royal baby even more special.

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What will the royal baby look like?

Here's your adorable answer!

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