After five months of marriage, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have announced that their first child is on the way. On their official Instagram page, as well as other social media accounts, Kensington Palace released a statement, which read:
"Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019.
"Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public."
This news comes just as the couple are due to begin a 16 day tour outside of the country, starting off with Australia before they head to Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. However, this is likely going to be the last time that Meghan ventures of out of England for the next nine months or so.
Pregnant women are advised not to do any overseas travel towards the end of the pregnancy, with some airlines not allowing anyone to fly past a certain point, but the rules are far more strict for women in the royal family. In fact, it's an unwritten rule that they mustn't travel abroad during pregnancy. This was less of a problem for British-born royals, but may be more of a sticking point with an American duchess.
Although she will be travelling from country to country over the next two weeks, it's likely this was already planned in advance, and by time she gets back to England, she'll be staying there until the baby is born.
On top of this, she probably won't get a baby shower. The tradition is particularly popular in the US, with expecting mothers inviting family and friends around to share gifts and play games - but it's so common with the royals. They are considered inappropriate to do in this context, and it's not as if she's in dire need of gifts with all the money at their disposal.
Diana and Kate wore clothes following their pregnancy that were not exactly the most comfy-looking. While most women will get to wear whatever they please after what they've been through, Kate had her personal hairstylist meet with her merely hours after delivering her son, helping her step out to the cameras in top form.
On the positive side, she will have an incredibly efficient team of professionals to help her through the whole thing.
Kate had a team consisting of two obstetricians, three midwives, three anaesthesiologists, four surgical staff members, two special care staffers, four paediatricians, one lab technician for blood tests, and three or four managers - and it's likely Meghan will have the same.
This team met once a month to discuss the pregnancy, and are under their own strict rules - including being on call for the final three months and being banned from drinking alcohol during this period. When the due date comes, it will be the Queen who learns of the birth first, before anyone else in the family.
In terms of the sex of the baby, we probably won't know until it's born. It's usual protocol for the parents to keep the sex a secret from the public until the little one arrives.
