Weeks before the royal baby was born, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced that they intended to keep plans surrounding their child’s birth private.
“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,” reads the statement released by Buckingham Palace.
“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 the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”
Notably, it was never announced where Meghan planned to give birth. This was a major change from the Duchess of Cambridge’s birth plans. For each of her three children, the media was notified weeks in advance that she would be giving birth at the Lindo Wing in London’s St Mary’s Hospital, where Princess Diana had also delivered. In contrast, Meghan was rumored to want a home birth, harkening back to a much older royal tradition (all four of the Queen’s children were born at home), though that was never officially confirmed.
Today, with the publication of Archie’s birth certificate, it is confirmed that Meghan gave birth at Portland Hospital in London.
Previously, several publications had reporting that Meghan’s son was born in a hospital. The Daily Mail’s Rebecca English first broke the news that Meghan had given birth in a hospital on May 6, reporting that the Duchess “was whisked off amid such secrecy that even senior royals weren’t told.”
“It is not known whether Meghan, 37, was induced but sources say she remained there overnight before her baby was born at 5.26am on Monday morning, with an elated Prince Harry at her side,” English reported.
Here is Archie being introduced to his great-grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle. Meghan’s mother Doria was also present for the meeting.
By the time the royal family announced the arrival of the royal baby, Meghan and Harry were back at Frogmore Cottage, their new home in Windsor.
“The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage,” reads the announcement. Naturally, that wording caused some speculation regarding whether or not Meghan had given birth at home.
The fact that the bulletin officially announcing the royal baby’s birth, which sat on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace, did not include the names of the doctors who attended to the birth, also prompted questions.
And The Sun’s royal correspondent Emily Andrews seemed to suggest that palace aides were unclear in how they addressed the situation.
“We were led to believe by palace aides that baby Sussex was born at Frogmore Cottage, but in fact he arrived at private London hospital the Portland,” she wrote on Twitter. “All other details still the same! Can’t wait to see a picture of him on Wednesday with his proud parents!”
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In the days following English’s initial report, several other publications including Harper’s Bazaar also reported that Meghan gave birth in a hospital. The royal family has not specifically commented on the matter.
Regardless of where it happened, Prince Harry said watching Meghan give birth to their son was “amazing.”
“It’s been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined,” Harry said.
“How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension but we’re both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everybody out there. It’s been amazing.”
