It’s a “healthy” baby boy for Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle, making him seventh-in-line to the British throne.
The 34-year-old father, Duke of Sussex, was present at the birth of his boy, who weighs 3.2 kg.
The new father, Prince Harry, told reporters that Meghan and the baby were doing “incredibly well” and that the couple were “absolutely thrilled” since the birth at 0526 am (local time). “It’s been the most amazing experience I can ever possibly imagine. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension,” said Prince Harry, making a brief media appearance as a new father.
“It was amazing, absolutely incredible. I’m so incredibly proud of my wife and as every father would say, this baby is absolutely to die for… So, I’m just over the moon,” he said, confirming that the baby was “a little bit overdue” and that the couple were still deciding on a name.
"I'm just over the moon." Prince Harry can't stop beaming about his new royal baby boy with Meghan Markle https://t.co/aMhMR6vjUI pic.twitter.com/SIVEyZajsJ
— TIME (@TIME) May 6, 2019
“The couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives,” the palace said, adding that, “More details will be shared in the forthcoming days.”
Meghan, 37, went into labour “in the early hours” of Monday morning.
The new royal baby, as Queen Elizabeth II’s eighth great grandchild, will be seventh-in-line to the British throne.
He or she will be in line behind its grandfather Prince Charles, uncle Prince William and his children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and father Harry, Duke of Sussex.
However, the baby will not be bestowed a title of His or Her Royal Highness (HRH), or referred to as a Prince or Princess, unless the 93-year-old monarch steps in to make an exception to the royal titles rule dating back to 1917.
The boy will be able to use one of Harry’s lesser titles to be known as the Earl of Dumbarton.
Meghan, a former actress, and Harry got married at a lavish wedding ceremony in Windsor Castle in May last year and announced the pregnancy publicly in October 2018, on the first day of their Commonwealth tour of Australia and New Zealand.
In a break from usual royal tradition, the couple have chosen to keep the birthing plans for their baby a private affair and said that they would be announcing the birth publicly only “once they have a chance to celebrate privately as a family”.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had moved out of their London home at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace into their newly-refurbished 10-bedroom family home at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on the Queen’s estate recently in preparation of the new arrival.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz and The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.
Read the full announcement here: https://t.co/RCUFjQG8pe
Their new home has a curious Indian history as the cottage which was a royal gift to Abdul Karim by Queen Victoria, then Empress of India, in recognition of his service and as a sign of her affection towards her Indian aide and confidant.
Karim, whom the monarch referred to as her “Munshi”, was just 24 when he arrived in England from Agra to present Victoria with a special mohar or gold coin to mark her Golden Jubilee in 1887. He quickly grew close to the ageing monarch, who bestowed many gifts on him including Frogmore Cottage for his own use.
“Queen Victoria gave it to Abdul Karim, as a special gift. She would often visit the cottage and have tea with his wife and him. He had decorated the house with many exotic things, including presents given to him by European royalty,” said Shrabani Basu, the author of ‘Victoria and Abdul: The Extraordinary True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant’.
Harry and Meghan, who have been based at Frogmore Cottage since early April, were appointed Youth Ambassadors for the Commonwealth by the Queen and there have been some speculative UK media reports on them choosing to be based in Africa as part of that role in the future.
Patrick J. Adams Tweets Royal Baby Well Wishes To His Former 'Suits' Co-Star
TORONTO — Canadian actor Patrick J. Adams has tweeted well wishes to his former "Suits" co-star, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, on the birth of her baby boy with Prince Harry.
Just heard that the world just got heavier by 7 pounds and 3 ounces. Much love to him and his incredible parents. Learned first hand 7 months ago how transformational becoming a parent is and couldn’t be happier for Meghan and Harry as they begin this adventure. #playdatesoon
— Patrick J Adams (@halfadams) May 6, 2019
The Toronto native posted on Twitter today: "Just heard that the world just got heavier by seven pounds and three ounces. Much love to him and his incredible parents."
Harry announced his wife, the former Meghan Markle, gave birth to a healthy baby boy early this morning.
Adams, who had his first child with actress Troian Bellisario in October, said in his tweet that he "learned first-hand seven months ago how transformational becoming a parent is."
He added he "couldn't be happier for Meghan and Harry as they begin this adventure."
Adams concluded the tweet with the hashtag "playdatesoon."
Adams played Markle's love interest in the legal drama "Suits," which is shot in Toronto and airs on Bravo in Canada.
