When Prince Harry stepped out grinning from ear to ear to confirm the birth of his first child, hearts across the world melted. After all, the last time we’d seen royal parents this proud was after Prince Louis was born in April last year.
And while we knew Harry and Meghan would steer away from some royal birth traditions, they managed to pull a few more surprises with their birth announcement that even the most devoted royalists didn’t see coming.
Compared to the very public photo call on the steps of the Lindo Wing that Prince William and Duchess Catherine did three times over, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan made the decision to keep things a little more to themselves.
“Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private,” an official statement revealed back in April.
“The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”
So how else have Harry and Meghan differentiated themselves from Will and Kate? Let’s take a look…
Unlike Will and Kate, Harry and Meghan announced their baby news a little less traditionally. (Image: Getty Images)
The nod to Princess Diana and the Spencer family
Harry was no doubt wishing his late mother could be there to share his baby joy, but in the official statement confirming the birth of Baby Sussex, he made sure Princess Diana was honoured.
While the top dog royals (The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, Prince William and Duchess Catherine) were naturally informed of the new baby boy, it was also mentioned that Diana’s siblings Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer were also among the first to be told of their great-nephew’s arrival.
READ MORE: Lady Kitty Spencer looks identical to Princess Charlotte!
Back when Prince Louis was born however, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge informed the same senior royals and then “members of both families”.
Prince Harry seems to have a very close relationship with his maternal family, his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes even gave a reading at the royal wedding.
Watch Princess Diana’s sister give a reading at Harry and Meghan’s wedding below. Post continues…
Harry and Meghan didn’t reveal everything about the birth itself
Royal tradition dictates that when a baby is born in the British royal family, a special bulletin is placed outside Buckingham Palace on a rather fancy gold easel for us mere mortals to learn the news.
While Harry and Meghan adhered to this tradition, there was something slightly different compared to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three royal baby bulletins.
“The Queen and the Royal Family are delighted at the news that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526am today. Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,” it read.
After every royal birth, an easel is placed outside Buckingham Palace with an official statement. (Image: Getty Images)
Sounds normal right? Well it was missing some key bits of information.
When Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were born, their easel announcements all featured the signatures of the doctors who were present at their births. Dr. Guy Thorpe-Beeston was there at the births of all three Cambridge children, while Dr. Alan Farthing was on hand to welcome Charlotte and Louis into the world.
How Harry addressed the press
When our favourite red-headed royal stepped out solo to address the press, this was probably the most obvious way he and his brother differ when it comes to their children.
Dressed down in a casual jumper and dark jeans, Prince Harry called an impromptu press conference at their hometown of Windsor to confirm he and Meghan had welcomed a “healthy baby boy,” despite being “a little bit overdue.”
The new proud dad also praised his wife for her role in the birth and said that they planned to make another announcement in two days’ time “so everyone can see the baby”.
Prince Harry called an impromptu press conference to confirm the happy news. (Image: Getty Images)
As well all know, this is a lot less formal than Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s traditional photo call on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital.
But then again, we always had a hunch that Meghan wouldn’t copy her sister-in-law and would opt for something a lot more organic and natural.
Where was Baby Sussex even born?
One of the benefits of the photo call at the Lindo Wing is the knowledge that the royal children were born at the Lindo Wing. But for Baby Sussex, the exact location of where he was born has still not been confirmed by the palace.
According to the Daily Mail‘s royal sources, the Duchess of Sussex was whisked off to London’s Portland hospital in secret, which is roughly an hour’s drive away from their Windsor home, where she remained overnight before giving birth at 5:26am on Monday morning.
While the proud parents may reveal where their baby was born when we next see them officially, Buckingham Palace is not confirming or denying the claims, simply stating, “Details of the birth are private.”
Buckingham Palace has not confirmed where Duchess Meghan gave birth. (Image: Getty Images)
Despite the differences in birth announcements, it’s clear the family are very excited to have another little bub join the clan.
Re-posting the @SussexRoyal Instagram announcement revealing Meghan and Harry’s baby to be a boy, Prince William and Duchess Catherine said in the statement: “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son today.”
We can’t wait to meet you Baby Sussex!
