With rumors already swirling that Duchess Meghan of Sussex will be having an at home birth, it makes sense that the former Meghan Markle and her husband Prince Harry have announced plans to have a private birth.
The baby is due in the next few weeks and Kensington Palace released a statement to the press stating:
“Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. 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 there will be no photo opp like with Kate Middleton and her babies hours after delivery.
There will be a photo opp later at Windsor Castle. Since Baby Sussex is so far down the line to be a future king, unlike Duchess Catherine and Prince Williams’ children, it’s not really a big deal to force the whole big show protocol.
Last week was International Women’s Day and also an important week for the former Meghan Markle who was appointed by Queen Elizabeth, the Vice President of The Queen’s Commonwealth Trus t on Friday.
The organization supports young leaders promoting social change, bettering their communities and providing work opportunities and hope for others across the globe.
Prince Harry is the president.
As part of her new role, the Duchess of Sussex will spotlight the work of the Trust with young leaders across the Commonwealth, in particular, the work of those supporting women and girls.
Perfect for this Women’s History Month!
To celebrate the new appointment and International Women’s Day, the duchess also spoke on a panel of female thought-leaders and activists at King’s College London.
“If things are wrong and there is a lack of justice, and there is an inequality, then someone needs to say something” she stated on the panel while wearing the Azzura Swirl Printed Shift dress by Reiss ($345) under a black Alexander McQueen Leaf Crepe blazer ( $1995), black Manolo Blahnik suede ‘BB’ Pointy Toe Pumps ($625) while carrying a leather with gold accent Stella McCartneyShaggy Deer Faux Leather Crossbody Bag and diamond pearl drop earrings by Caroline Parr with her hair in a messy bun.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 8, 2019
Among several things she revealed during that panel is that she has canceled social media, explaining that she doesn’t engage with social media much as a personal choice, in an effort to avoid “getting muddled” by the “noise,” the UK’s Press Association (PA) news agency reports.
The response came after the former Suits TV star was asked how she felt about headlines that called her feminism “trendy.”
She replied: “I don’t read anything, it’s much safer that way, but equally that’s just my own personal preference, because I think positive or negative, it can all sort of just feel like noise to a certain extent these days, as opposed to getting muddled with that to focus on the real cause.”
She cotinued: “So for me, “I think the idea of making the word ‘feminism’ trendy, that doesn’t make any sense to me personally, right? This is something that is going to be part of the conversation forever.”
When asked later if she looked at Twitter, she replied: “No, sorry, no. For me that’s my personal preference.”
Although the concept of Baby Showers is pretty foreign to the British, insiders report that Kate Middleton is planning a version of a shower for her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle.
The baby is due in late April, a few days before their first wedding anniversary, and the Duchess of Cambridge will be hosting the intimate event with family and close staff, likely in her home at Kensington Palace.
Even though the royal couple previously said they were keeping the sex of the baby a surprise, according to recent reports, Meghan is apparently expecting a boy.
This would be the Duchess of Sussex’s second shower because he had a nice intimate one thrown by her American celeb friends Serena Williams, Amal Clooney and her Suits co-star last month.
This week, I was in awe to see all of the British and American press making a big deal over the fact that Serena Williams, Amal Clooney and Gayle King threw Meghan Markle a baby shower which some are estimating cost close to a $500,000, when you consider the security and private jet to NYC from the UK and back.
My thoughts: first, no one knows if that estimated number of the cost is entirely accurate.
Second: So what?
I’ve been covering celebrity baby showers for as long as this blog has existed, which is over 10 years, and I do not recall anytime that news and gossip outlets discussed the cost of a celebrity baby shower.
Granted, I do understand that baby showers are uncommon among the British, so any shower at any cost may seem exorbitant. However, Kensington Palace had to come out and state that Markle paid for the cost of travel and her stay herself.
They may have pointed out how lavish they were but none reported on the cost, to my recollection.
Let’s take a look at other celeb showers because, what does one expect from people who are rich and/or wealthy and have resources and funds to throw lavish affairs?
For example, Cardi B‘s shower featured a 16-foot topiary floral wall, room entrance ways that resembled a 6-car subway train, and several rooms draped in 26,000 pink and white flowers.
Vanessa Bryant and Kobe Bryant‘s shower featured a floral wall.
In June 2016, Nicky Hilton had a baby shower at The Towers at the top of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City.
Honestly, I think this young woman is getting more criticism than her predecessor non-royal wife, Duchess Catherine, Kate Middleton.
It reminds me of the criticism Michelle Obama received to the cost of her clothing, hullabaloo which was not similarly made over the cost of Barabara or Nancy Bush or Hillary Clinton‘s First Lady clothing prior.
Last night, she and her husband Shawn “Jay Z” Carter accepted a 2019 Brit Award for Best International Group via Instagram and while doing so gave a salute to first-time mom-to-be Meghan Markle.
“Thank you to the Brits for the award for Best International Group,” Queen Bey captioned her photo of her and Jay standing in front of a portrait depiction of Markle dressed as a queen. “I won this award back in 2002 with my besties, Kelly and Michelle [of Destiny’s Child}. How lucky am I to have been in a group with my other best friend, the GOAT Hova. ?? In honor of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas.
“Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy.”
Bey was referring to the Duchess of Sussex who was treated to a baby shower hosted by one of her besties Serena Williams yesterday.
It is an ode to the couple’s signature photo in front of the Mona Lisa they took back in October 2014 during a family visit to the famous and popular museum.
We saw them return to it when they filmed the video for their song off the “Everything Is Love” album, Apesh*t, last year.
Duchess of Sussex whisked into New York this weekend for a relaxing getaway mini vacay and to celebrate the impending arrival of her first child at an intimate baby shower.
Several source place the former Meghan Markle at The Mark Hotel in NYC before heading to the Met Breuer art museum, a contemporary art museum in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, then a meet-up with friend and ex-Suits co-star Abigail Spencer at The Surrey hotel.
The UK Mirror reports that a small gathering of about 15 friends hosted a celebration for the baby and a lot of pink roses were seen being ushered into the hotel— perhaps a sign that she is expecting a baby girl!
But then we saw other colors so…yeah.
An insider toldHello! that the theme was a “little slice of Paris in the middle of New York City.”
I thought I had heard and read it all until I bumped into a few blogs and reputable news sites’ entertainment pages (I won’t call them out by name) claiming that Duchess of Sussex makes specific and deliberate hand gestures and clothing placements to make sure her bump is center stage.
*deep long sigh*
I don’t know if these people have ever been pregnant or not but when a woman, any woman, is 6 to 8 months along in a pregnancy, she really doesn’t have to go out of her way to make sure she looks it!
One “body language expert” quoted said, the former Suits actress is purposefully wearing bump hugging clothing and intentionally opting for coats so the baby bump would peek through. Another said she “flicks” them open for this purpose.
Wow! That sounds so ludicrous to me.
I don’t know, she could wear what’s out there, most of which are bump hugging, or wear a muu muu.
Also, as to the conspicuous hand placement on her belly, it is a very common and subconscious maternal practice of expecting woman to place her hands on her pregnant belly when pregnant. It’s not being done to cause attention by any means, I don’t believe.
Markle and Prince Harry are expecting their first child later this month.
Speaking of Meghan Markle, she wore a $34 dress under a Armani coat to a charity yesterday and the Internet went wild over the Duchess’ choice to wear an affordable item out.
This is not the first time the Duchess of Sussex opted for a lower price item that broke the Internet. During a trip to New Zealand last year, she stepped out in in a $56 ASOS maternity dress which a lot of us commoners loved! (It’s still available in Mustard btw)
Even though the Duke and Duchess of Sussexhave confirmed in October that they are expecting their first child and that their baby would be born in spring 2019, they had never revealed how far along she was until recently.
At an event, 37-year-old Meghan Markle reportedly shared the news that she is, in fact, six months pregnant, and due at the end of April or the beginning of May.
According to multiple sources, Markle shared her due date with royal onlookers while chatting about motherhood during a visit to the English town of Birkenhead on Jan. 14.
Emily Nash, the royal editor at U.K.’s Hello! Magazine, tweeted the news.
Meghan has told wellwishers in Birkenhead that she is six months pregnant – due end of April/beginning of May! Lots of baby chat today! #dukeandduchessofsussex
Kensington Palace has not confirmed Markle’s exact due date.
Per royal protocol,Global News Canada reports, if they have a boy, he will be called Earl of Dumbarton -— the secondary Sussex title — before inheriting the dukedom, and a daughter would be Lady (her name) of Windsor unless Queen Elizabeth issues a change to call them Prince and Princess as she did with Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s kids.
So the over and under is that Meghan Markle, the brand new Duchess of Sussex is a taste maker and trend setter.
Several fashion outlets reported last year that whenever the mom-to-be was seen out wearing one of the up and coming designers’ clothing the former Suits star likes to wear they sell out quickly after. It’s called “The Meghan Markle Effect.“
In August, Meghan stepped out in London for a charity performance of Hamilton in a black tuxedo dress by Judith and Charles, which resulted in a 800 per cent increase in the UK for the style. Similarly, her recent white sleeveless Maggie Marilyn tuxedo dress worn during her royal tour of New Zealand resulted in a 74 per cent surge in searches for the brand.
E! did a rundown on some of Markle’s most impactful & influential outfits since she married Prince Harry last Spring. A lot of it is pretty straight laced but a mixture of structured jackets, A-line dresses, mixed with solids and patterns, which I like. Her taste and style these days are a bit straight laced yet still very very chic but I guess since she is a Royal now, it’s best to stick to the script and the less over-the top and more non-descript!
But I love conservative leaning looks anyway. Here are my faves.
The Club Monaco trench coat over an all black everything look with some lace up Stuart Weitzman Veruka boots that she wore during a stop in New Zealand last October is fire!
Finally, this burgundy peplum top over black cropped skinny pants and black Sarah Flint Jay Pump platform shoes are chic, stylish yet relatable and comfy.
I don’t think sis can go wrong and there is a multi-million and maybe billion dollar/pound fashion industry that is banking on it too!
