Baby Sussex: Nine things you may have missed

Baby Sussex is here and the world is delighted.

Meghan Markle, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, shared the news of the birth of their first child, a baby boy, in the early hours of Monday morning UK time.

Here are all the details you may have missed:

When we’ll see the baby

It seems we won’t have to wait too long before we get our first glimpse of Baby Sussex, as Prince Harry revealed they’re planning to step out as a family in two days time.

“I think we will be seeing you guys in probably two days' time as planned as a family to be able to share it with you guys and so everyone can see the baby,” he told the press outside Windsor Castle.

Harry’s already in love, but there’s no name yet

A beaming Prince Harry said the pair were "absolutely thrilled" and thanked the public for their support.

He said Meghan and the baby were doing "incredibly well" and that the baby "is absolutely to die for”.

"It was amazing, absolutely incredible. As I say, I am so incredibly proud of my wife and, as every father and parent would ever say your baby is absolutely amazing, this little baby is absolutely to die for," a smiling Harry said.

He added they had not yet decided on a name for the child but because he was overdue, they’ve had some time to think about it.

The Palace’s gaffe

A royal commentator has suggested that palace aides may have been caught off guard by the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby.

An announcement that Meghan had gone into labour in the early hours of Monday morning (GMT), was followed by another one less than an hour later, revealing that she had safely delivered a son, weighing 7lbs 3ozs (3.2kg).

When Yahoo UK contacted Buckingham Palace after the announcement Meghan was in labour, it seemed they were unaware that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son had already been born.

Speaking to the BBC, royal expert and author Katie Nicholl said, “I don’t know how much this has caught the palace press office by surprise as well, it’s happened very quickly.

“It gives you some indication of how private this birth has been kept.”

And while the customary piece of royal parchment was placed outside of Buckingham Palace to announce the happy arrival, there was one key detail missing, which further highlights just how private the birth of Baby Sussex was.

One thing that differed when it came to this announcement, compared to previous ones, is that it didn't include any details of where the baby was delivered, or any mention of a doctor.

When Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were born for example, the bulletins included the signatures of the doctors present at the births.

Meghan’s family reacts

The Duchess’ beloved mum Doria Ragland, is at the couple’s new home in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage, and according to the palace, she’s “overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild”.

Meanwhile Meghan’s estranged Markle family were never expected to stay quiet, and her father, Thomas Markle, released a statement about the birth.

“I am proud that my new grandson is born into the British royal family and I am sure that he will grow up to serve the crown and the people of Britain with grace, dignity, and honour,” he told The Sun.

“God bless the child and I wish him health and happiness, and my congratulations to my lovely daughter Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry, and God save the Queen.”

Blue balloons and a bunch of flowers were also seen being delivered to his home in Mexico.

Meanwhile, the Duchess’ half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr. issued a plea to Meghan to let him see her newborn son.

"Hopefully this baby will help mend the family rift - we'd all love to meet the baby and become a part of his life - especially my dad," he told The Sun.

Baby Sussex has already made history

He’s still a newborn, but baby Sussex has already made history in a number of ways.

Reflecting much of the population of Britain itself, baby Sussex is mixed race. Historians will argue over whether he is the first mixed race baby born into the royal family however, as Queen Charlotte (who married King George III in the 1700s and had 15 children with him) may have had African ancestry.

The tiny tot is also the first senior member of the family to have both a British parent and an American-born parent, meaning he may be a dual citizen.

Having been born in the UK to a British dad, he automatically holds British citizenship, and he may be entitled to US citizenship depending on Meghan’s own citizenship status.

Children born outside of the US to one US parent are entitled to citizenship if that parent has lived in the US for at least five years, two of which when the parent was under the age of 14. Meghan grew up in the States and qualifies under this, and she is currently in the process of obtaining British citizenship.

He will not be a ‘prince’

Despite his father being a ‘prince’, baby Sussex will not inherit the title of ‘prince’ unless the Queen steps in with an exception.

In 1917, George V limited titles within the royal family so prince and princess titles and the HRH status are now only reserved for children or grandchildren of the Monarch, and baby Sussex is the great grandchild of the Queen.

Prince George was the exception as his father, Prince William is in line to be king, and the Queen actually issued a new Letters Patent when Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were born to give them the same title as their older brother.

If she didn’t, the now Princess and Prince would have been known as Lady Charlotte Mountbatten-Windsor and Earl Louis Mountbatten-Windsor. When Charles ascends to the throne, Harry and Meghan’s children will be entitled to the ‘prince’ and ‘princess’ titles, unless they choose not to accept them. Harry’s uncle Prince Edward did this with his daughter Lady Louise and son James, who is known as Viscount Severn.

He won’t take either of his parents’ surnames

Royals don’t really need surnames, they’re pretty well known as it is. They’re usually given a string of first names when born, and only adopt surnames when they first go to school – at least this was the case with William and Harry, and George and Charlotte.

Likewise, it’s expected that baby Sussex will take up a surname when he heads to school, and it won’t be ‘Markle’ like his mum, or ‘Wales’ like his dad, or ‘Cambridge’ like his cousins.

Just like Harry took up his father’s title of ‘Wales’, and George has taken his dad’s title of ‘Cambridge’, the baby will likely adopt the surname ‘Sussex’, even though the British royal family are generally known as the Mountbatten-Windsors (just to make it even more confusing).

Their tribute to Diana

In a touching gesture in honour of Harry’s late mother Princess Diana, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex informed Diana’s siblings, sisters Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale and Earl Spencer, of the birth before making it known to the public.

Harry has stayed close to his mother’s siblings, and even asked his aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, to give a reading at the their May 2018 royal wedding.

Lady Jane Fellowes with Doria Ragland, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018. (Image via Getty Images).

After announcing their engagement in 2017, Markle noted in a televised interview just how important it was for her to get to know Princess Diana’s siblings as well as her good friend, Julia Samuels.

“I think in being able to meet his aunts and also like Julia and just different people who were so important to his mum, I’m able to, in some way, know a part of her through them and of course through him,” Markle said. “It’s incredibly special.”

Will he ever be King?

It’s highly unlikely baby Sussex will even ascend to the throne. With the birth of Prince Louis around this time last year, Prince Harry was bumped down to sixth in line to the throne after Charles, William, George, Charlotte and Louis, in that order.

So that means the new royal baby will slot in behind his father as seventh in line, ahead of Harry’s uncle Prince Andrew, who comes in at eight.

Likewise, Andrew’s eldest daughter Princess Beatrice was bumped down the line after William, Harry and her own father, when he was born, but he was still in front of her aunt Princess Anne (who is ten years older than Andrew).

This is because the line of succession used to favour male children, meaning Anne was pushed below her younger brothers Andrew and Edward. However, this was changed in 2011 so Princess Charlotte will not be usurped by Louis.

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