It's the news we've all been waiting for since May...Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting a baby! The couple made the announcement on October 15th via the Kensington Palace Twitter account.
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.
The couple is currently on an intense tour schedule, thanks to Prince Harry's roll in the Invictus Games. While in Australia, Harry and Meghan have been out and about meeting fans and attending engagements, which can be tiring for someone who is pregnant.
That's why it made sense when it was announced that Meghan would be cutting back on her royal duties.
"After a busy programme, The Duke and Duchess have decided to cut back The Duchess's schedule slightly for the next couple of days, ahead of the final week and a half of the tour," a source said.
Harry confirmed this news when asked Meghan's whereabouts during one of his engagements. He said his wife was "resting back at home, being pregnant takes its toll."
Even though Meghan is only 12 weeks along, Harry already seems to have a preference as to whether they welcome a little son or daughter. In an Instagram post that has since gone viral, a fan shouts at Harry, "I hope it's a girl!"
His response?
"So do I!"
Of course, this is just a fun video, and there's no real confirmation as to whether Meghan is indeed expecting a little girl, but it's interesting that Harry would admit to a preference without actually knowing. What happens if she gives birth to a boy? Now that's a controversy waiting to happen!
Harry also spoke with a women named Jessica and her daughter Harriet, which Harry took a liking to (perhaps because of how similar it is to his own!)
"As soon as I introduced my daughter to Harry, he said, 'That's a great name.'" Jessica said, according to British press reports. "Maybe they will choose it for their own child, which would be fun."
And speaking of names, there are already odds on what Harry and Meghan's bundle of joy will be called. Different places have different odds, but here are the most common.
If it's a girl, "Victoria" is at the top of the name heap at 8/1 odds, with "Alice" coming next at 12/1. Third spot is held by "Elizabeth," at 16/1 odds.
"Alexander" comes in at 7/1 if it's a boy. The names "Arthur" and "Philip" are tied at 8/1 odds in second place. "Albert" isn't far behind at 10/1 after that. This would be in honour of Queen Victoria's husband. "Charles" is one of the longer shots, with odds of 16/1.
What's interesting to note is that the name Diana isn't on the list of potential girl names, nor is Doria, Meghan's mom's name. It wouldn't be surprising at all if Harry and Meghan went off the book for their child's name, as they do seem to love straying from tradition.
If I was a betting woman, I'd say the name pays tribute to Diana, even if it's subtle.
