It was announced that the Duchess of Sussex was pregnant back in October 2018, the day before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on their first state visit abroad as a married couple, to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga. It has seemed like a long wait, but Baby Sussex, as the baby became known, was born in the early hours of the morning on Monday 6th May 2019. We waited for days, weeks even, as all we knew was that the baby was due at the end of April, beginning of May. The Duchess quietly disappeared from public duties, and the Duke continued with a scaled down schedule.
There was a false alarm that the baby had already been born when Buckingham Palace announced that the Duke was to visit the Netherlands on the 8th and 9th May. Then it was announced that instead he would just visit on the 9th, and a statement confirmed that the baby had not yet been born.
The Duke and Duchess had just transferred their press office to Buckingham Palace from Kensington Palace as they established their own household, so I think it was interesting to see how their new office handled this exciting event, especially as the public and media were so interested, and the Sussex’s determined to keep things private. There was to be no public appearance on the hospital steps for the Sussex’s, as they first wanted to celebrate privately as a family. It is true that the Sussex’s will eventually fade further from the limelight as the Cambridge children grow up and take on royal duties, and as the Sussex’s move further down the line of succession. I agree it is only fair that they have some privacy and celebrate together, it is daunting to appear in front of the world’s media just hours after giving birth; but, they are our royal family, they will never have a truly private life. That is something they must accept, and use for the common good. I think they may have been attempting to back out of the limelight a few years too early. In other circumstances they will want the limelight; to spread news or raise awareness of good causes, and unite the country and commonwealth. Although all has turned out well, as Prince Harry did speak to the world’s gathered press, and the couple did present the baby to the media with a staged photo call and short interview, we did not know that would be happening, and the information we received did leave us feeling slightly rebuffed. In the end, the photocall gave us what we wanted; a chance to see the couple and baby and hear about the birth and the first few days of parenting, and it came across as well staged, respectful, organised, and I think with an air of elegance and control. It gave the new parents confidence.
So events unfolded; the couple’s official instagram @sussexroyal gave us the news that it was a boy, with a comment saying, “We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019. Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz.The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives. More details will be shared in the forthcoming days.” It was thought the couple may have opted for a home birth at their new home, Frogmore Cottage, on the Windsor estate. But it is thought that the Duchess was whisked to a private hospital late on Sunday night, in a move so secretive that even senior royals were unaware. Perhaps the Portland Hospital in London. The baby wa born at 5.26am. The Duke later appeared outside Windsor to speak to the press. He confessed to have not had much sleep, suggesting the Duchess’ labour was through the night; he was by her side the whole time.
The news was also displayed in the traditional way, with a statement on an easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. This is the way that royal births have been announced throughout history and before social media. I think it is excellent that this tradition is still followed, although we all hear about the news a lot quicker via social media and official press statements from the Palace. It harks back to days gone by and reminds us of the longevity of the monarchy, that this new baby is just a part of the history that is the British Royal Family, and a history that is still being written. Many well wishers had gathered outside Buckingham Palace to view the sign, and gathered around Windsor to be near the new family of three. Below is a copy of the official statement:
As is clear from this statement, Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, who had arrived in the UK ahead of the birth, was present for the birth and is playing a huge role of support to her daughter. It echoes the role that Carole Middleton played when the Duchess of Cambridge gave birth to her children, notably with her first child, Prince George, with the Cambridge’s choosing to stay at the Middleton family home in the weeks after the birth of Prince George. No doubt the presence of her mother will be a huge help to Meghan as she navigates this new role of Mother.
During his appearance to the press, the new father said he was pleased to announce that they had a baby boy, and that mother and baby were doing well. Harry commented that it was an amazing experience, he was very proud of his wife and all women, and he did not know how they did it! He said he was grateful for all the love and support out there, from all of us. At this stage they were still unsure of a name, but Harry did confirm that the baby was overdue, so they had had some time to think about it. He also confirmed that the baby would be shown to all of us, “as planned,” in 2 days time. I think he seemed very excited, very pleased, and fairly relaxed. This shows that he was clearly ready for fatherhood, and genuinely pleased to share the news with us, and what new father isn’t? Once again, it was confirmed to us that the royals are, after all, human like us.
The messages of congratulations flowed in. The Cambridges said, “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son today, and look forward to meeting the latest addition to the family,” in an official statement from Kensington Palace. The next day they were at an event taking place at the Cutty Sark in London. They spoke about their new nephew, with the Duke saying he has plenty of advice for his younger brother, but for now they should, "settle down over the next few days," and enjoy, "all the sort of joys that come with that." He joked, "I'm very glad and pleased to welcome my brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting.” The Duchess of Cambridge said, "With Louis and Charlotte just having their birthdays, it's a great time of year to have a baby.”
The Prince of Wales was away in Germany with the Duchess of Cornwall on an official visit. He said, "We couldn't be more delighted at the news and we're looking forward to meeting the baby when we return." The late Princess of Wales’ brother, Earl Spencer, uncle to Prince Harry, and his sister’s Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Lady Jane Fellowes were also included in the official statement as having been informed. This wasn’t included in the statements following the births of the Cambridge children and I think it shows how much Harry wants to include his mother, her memory, and his mother’s family in his son’s life, and in his own family. This is a clear statement that the Spencer’s are his family, and they will always be.
Other well known public figures also expressed their congratulations, such as Michelle Obama, who knows the couple well, Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. The BT tower was lit blue, with the words, "Congratulations Harry and Meghan" and "It's a baby boy!" revolving around it. The London Eye lit up in patriotic colours of red, white, and blue, the colour of the Union Flag, and also the American flag, to celebrate the birth. Niagara falls in Canada was lit up blue; Canada boasts the Queen as it’s head of state, and was also home to the Duchess of Sussex before she moved to England. The CN tower was lit purple in celebration too.
On Wednesday 8th May the moment we had all been waiting for arrived! In the morning, Baby Sussex was shown to the gathered press in Windsor Castle. The proud parents walked in, with their new son in Harry’s arms. Meghan stood very close, a bit more nervous I think than her husband; Harry was holding the baby which is a sign that he was supporting the family and that Meghan wasn’t perhaps ready to hold the baby in front of the media, much like Catherine, which is understandable. Meghan looked radiant as she talked about her son, with perhaps a touch of nerves and shyness, it is a whole new world and she only gave birth a couple of days ago.
Meghan wore a white dress and Harry a light grey suit. I do think that Meghan could have gone for something a little smarter for such an important occasion. The short photo call and interview was broadcast to the world. Firstly, the couple posed for photos which were also released, and then answered a few questions. When asked who the baby takes after, Meghan said, “We're still trying to figure that out." Harry added, "Everyone says that babies change so much over two weeks we're basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really. But his looks are changing every single day, so who knows."Harry then answered a question about how he found parenting, saying, "It's great. Parenting is amazing. It's only been two and a half days, three days, but we're just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy." Meghan added, "He's just been the dream so it's been a special couple of days." The gathered press was made up of one reporter, one photographer, three cameramen, as well as the couple's own private photographer and a household press officer photographer.
The couple revealed that they were then going to meet the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh after the interview. This is significant as they are the first members of Harry’s family to meet Archie. A photo was later released of the Sussex’s with the Queen and Prince Philip, and the Duchess’ mother Doria Ragland, all looking at Archie.
The full name of this latest addition to the royal family is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. He has no title as titles only extend to the grandchildren of the sovereign down the male line. Some royals have chosen to not give their children titles; Prince Edward styled his children as children of an Earl as opposed to a Prince, and grandchildren of the sovereign. As grandchildren of the sovereign descended down the female line, Princess Anne’s children could not be Prince or Princess, but could have had titles had their father accepted a title, such as an Earldom, from the Queen, but he and Anne chose not to, and therefore their children aren’t titled. Due to Harry’s Dukedom, the couple could choose to style their son according to the British Peerage rules; as the eldest son of a duke he can take his father’s secondary title, in this case Earl of Dumbarton. But it does not seem that the couple are choosing this at the moment. Prince William’s children have the Prince/Princess title because the Queen changed the rules before the birth of his first child, so that all children of the eldest son of the Prince of Wales also take the Prince/Princess title.
Finally, the name was released. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Initially I thought it was an unusual choice for a royal baby. But, then I reflected that as this baby is currently 7th in line to the throne, then it is not necessarily expected that a name would be chosen from amongst the usual selection of royal names and middle names, like those chosen for the Cambridge children. Princess Anne and Princess Margaret are prime examples of royals who chose less traditional names for their children, because their children were not directly in line for the throne. So after all, perhaps it is not such a huge step, not so modern, and not so radical. I pray that God may bless this new baby.
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