Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have baby 'privately'

An official statement says they will share the news once they've 'celebrated as a family'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have their baby in private, the palace has confirmed. AP

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have their baby in private, a statement from the royal family today has revealed.

Any fans hoping the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would recreate the scenes from Prince William and Kate Middleton outside the Lindo Wing will be disappointed by the news, with the couple saying they will instead share the news “once they have had time to celebrate as a new family”.

“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby,” the statement reads. “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 their exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”

Although Meghan’s exact due date has not been revealed, it is thought she is due to give birth any day now, after telling fans during a royal visit earlier this year that the baby was due in April.

Their baby will not be a HRH, and will be seventh in line to the throne, although given their profile as a couple, some fans were hoping to get a public glimpse of the newborn.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared the plans for the birth of all three of their children - George, Charlotte and Louis - with the media, appearing on the steps of the Lindo Wing, the private hospital in Paddington where Kate gave birth, to introduce the newborns to the crowd of waiting media, well-wishers and the world.

They followed in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who also chose to publicly introduce both Prince William and Prince Harry to the world.

It is an expected part of royal protocol for more prominent members of the royal family, however, Prince Harry and Meghan have chosen to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Zara and Mike Tindall, who opted to have daughters Mia Grace and Lena Elizabeth in private.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have recently created their own social media channels - Sussex Royal - and it is expected news of the new arrival will be shared there alongside the official royal family channels.

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