In news that has royal punters around the world rejoicing, Kensington Palace has confirmed that Duchess Meghan, 37, is expecting her first child with husband Prince Harry, 34.
In a statement released on Monday evening Australian time, the Palace said: “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.”
“Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public. “
And baby makes three: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married in May this year.
As Woman’s Day exclusively revealed in this week’s issue, on stands now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex conceived their first child within a couple months of their May wedding and will be taking “no chances” with their precious bundle of joy during their impending royal tour.
The couple have a top team of medics at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Private Hospital on call during their visit should Meghan require any medical attention.
“Senior nurses have been briefed to be prepared for a possible visit from an ‘extremely high-profile patient’ and to treat it with absolute secrecy,” an Invictus Games aide told us.
“Of course, they haven’t been told who it is but it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out.”
So, how far along is the duchess and when exactly is she due to give birth?
According to the palace, she will give birth in the UK spring, which falls between March, April and May. This means Meghan could be anywhere between three to four months pregnant.
The news comes amid the royal couple touching down in Sydney this morning ahead of their upcoming royal tour.
When the statement was released at 6:43pm Sydney time, a pregnant Meghan was holed up at the Governor General’s residence Admiralty House in Kirribilli, Sydney, with Harry no doubt celebrating their news can now be shared with the world.
Harry and Meghan’s beautiful baby news is the cherry on top of an already incredible year for the couple following their historical May 19th nuptials.
WATCH: Prince Harry talks about kids and finding the one. Post continues…
The clucky couple have previously revealed they’d love to start a family “in the near future” and it looks like they’ve wasted no time!
Insiders recently told Woman’s Day the former Suits actress has enlisted the help of nutritionist and fertility specialist Melanie Brown to help whip her and Harry into tiptop shape to fall pregnant asap.
“Melanie was at Nottingham Cottage for around an hour checking Meghan’s vitals, looking into her health history and taking as much information as possible to devise a specialist diet for both her and Harry to stick to,” a palace source said.
Bump watch: Meghan held the folders across her stomach as she arrived in Sydney this morning.
Meghan sent fans into a frenzy with many predicting she was hiding a baby bump in this blue Givenchy coat during her appearance at the Royal Wedding.
Harry and Meghan have also been preparing for their lives ahead as parents.
Construction workers have been working round-the-clock to quickly complete their 21-room apartment renovations at Kensington Palace, making it fit for their growing family.
Indeed, ‘royal baby watch’ has reached fever pitch in recent months – especially after Duchess Meghan stepped out in a billowing navy Givenchy coat during Princess Eugenie’s royal wedding over the weekend that would be ideal for covering a growing bump.
WATCH: Prince Harry is a natural with kids. Post continues…
He’s a natural: Prince Harry has said he can’t wait to become a dad.
The baby speculation geared up another notch when Meghan recently changed her hairstyle.
But it was when Meghan landed in Sydney this morning suspiciously carrying two large folders across her stomach that bump-watch went into overdrive.
The newlyweds have been asked many times about starting a family, and Harry has spoken openly about being ready to become a dad
“I’ve longed for kids since I was very, very young,” the Prince has previously said.
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If our husband was that good with kids, we’d be making that face too!
As we countdown to meet their first child, royal experts have already weighed in on potential titles the mini-Sussex will take.
The dukedom given to Harry and Meghan can, by Royal law, only be passed on to a future son (yes, this means that any daughters the pair may have will not inherit a title).
So, this means if Harry and Meghan don’t have any sons, the title will simply die out.
“Of course, I would love to have kids,” Harry has said in the past.
However, the Queen has been known to tweak the rules and we saw her make some changes when her grandson Prince William started his family in 2012.
Under former Royal rules, Charlotte would have been replaced in the line to the throne by Prince Louis – purely because of gender.
But in 2011, Her Majesty decided there needed to be a change.
Now the ruling states that, “all the children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales should have and enjoy the style, title and attribute of royal highness with the titular dignity of Prince or Princess prefixed to their Christian names or with such other titles of honour.”
The new baby will fall after Prince William and Duchess Catherine’s children and be 7th in line to the British throne.
A huge congratulations again to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on this beautiful news!
For all the details on Meghan and Harry’s Royal Baby, get the new issue of Woman’s Day – on sale now!
