UPDATE: ET source confirms the baby was born at home.
Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on the birth of their first child, a baby boy.
Kensington Palace announced the news via Twitter today.
“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs,” the Palace tweeted. “The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz and The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.”
Adding:
“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.
The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage.
Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well.”
As suspected, it appears like she had a home birth. The timing of the delivery with news that Markle’s mom is with her and the baby makes me think she indeed had a homebirth.
The Daily Mail had previously reported that Meghan’s current top choice is a home birth led by a midwife.
Sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who are expecting their first child within weeks, have not ruled out a hospital delivery because a woman having a baby over the age of 35 is at an increased risk of premature birth or the need for an epidural or caesarean.
But a friend in America said the duchess – who still practices yoga daily and has ‘sailed’ through her pregnancy – is in extremely good health and sees no reason why she could not enjoy a safe delivery in the privacy of the cottage.
‘It is her favoured choice,’ the source said, ‘but it obviously depends on how things are nearer the time.’
Congrats! We have a Baby Duke!
Harry announced the news to the public:
“It’s been the most amazing experience I can ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension,” he said. “But, we’re both absolutely thrilled. And so grateful to all the love and support from everybody out there. It’s been amazing. So we just wanted to share this with everybody.”
“The baby’s a little bit overdue so we’ve had a little bit of time to think about it. That’s the next bit,” he said of choosing a name. “For us, I think we’ll be seeing you guys in probably two days time as planned, as a family. To be able to share it with you guys and so everyone can see the baby.”
Harry ended his sweet remarks by once again praising Meghan and saying their baby boy is “to die for.”
“I haven’t been in many births. This is definitely my first birth,” he quipped. “But it was amazing. Absolutely incredible. And, as I said, I’m so incredibly proud of my wife. And, as every father and parent would ever say, your baby’s absolutely amazing, but this little thing is absolutely to die for. So I’m just over the moon.”
Photo: Getty