Prince Harry has dreamt of becoming a father for years, and when his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, fell pregnant, it seemed he was finally getting the family he always wanted.
But insiders reveal that instead of bonding with his newborn, Harry is facing the most bitter custody battle the royal family has ever seen, as rebellious Meghan goes head-to-head with the Queen over the baby.
In a shocking turn of events, outsider Meghan, 37, has secretly planned to flee from the palace with her baby by her side, after months of increasing pressure, feuds with the family and backlash against her.
“Meghan’s sick of being bossed around and adhering to palace code and conduct, and living by the ‘old-fashioned’ rules,” explains one insider.
“Her leaving may come as a shock to some, but for the royal family, this has been their biggest fear throughout her entire pregnancy.”
But a centuries-old ruling states that the Queen has full custody of Harry and Meghan’s first-born under the royal family custody law – and she’ll do anything to ensure Baby Sussex remains in the UK.
The Queen will do what it takes to ensure Baby Sussex stays in the UK. (Images: Getty Images)
The Queen takes charge
“Harry told his grandmother he was petrified Meghan would try and take the baby back to America, but Her Majesty has had her lawyers busy drawing up an iron-clad agreement to prepare for all eventualities,” the source says.
“The Queen will not allow this baby to be the first royal to be taken away from the palace and raised as a commoner, without the guidance of the royal family.”
Since the moment she met Harry, Meghan has been resistant to the constraints of royal life and always tried to “modernise” the monarchy with the help of her like-minded husband.
WATCH: Meghan Markle reportedly wants an American nanny for Baby Sussex. Post continues…
Most recently, she went against royal protocol by opting for a home birth rather than having her baby at London’s St Mary’s Hospital, where her sister-in-law, the Duchess of Cambridge, has had all three of her children.
Meghan went one step further by declaring that she and Harry also wouldn’t be posing publicly with their baby directly after the birth, but would share the news when they felt they were ready.
Even though Harry, 34, has always been afforded more freedom as the royal “spare”, it appears he’s at the mercy of tradition and hierarchy when it comes to the future of his child.
READ MORE: Why Duchess Meghan will be the total opposite of Duchess Catherine when she gives birth.
Harry told his grandmother that he was scared Meghan would take their baby back to the US. (Images: Getty Images)
But fiery Meghan isn’t backing down without a fight.
The staunch feminist has some powerful friends in high places, including international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who have come out in full support of her right to raise her child wherever she sees fit.
She also has an unexpected ally in the form of fellow royal outsider Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Meghan and Camilla have formed a close bond. (Image: Getty Images)
Camilla’s ‘duty’
“Camilla was on the out for so many years and was bullied by the Palace, and she sees it as her duty to help Meghan get custody of her child,” the source reveals.
“As a mother herself, she can empathise and has been feeding her intel from the royal side to ensure she has the upper hand.”
Meghan is also arming herself with the best legal team possible, in order to adequately fight the royal family for her baby.
“Meghan has flown in a top New York custody lawyer who has worked with a string of big Hollywood names,” says the royal insider.
“She’s gone into full protective mother mode and is prepared to do whatever it takes to win this – even threatening to release a damning dossier of explosive palace secrets if the royal family tries to take her newborn away from her.”
