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Palace's royal baby gaffe

Baby Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle give birth
Meghan and Harry have welcomed a son [Photo: Getty]

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, 37, 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.

This is where the royal baby is in the line of succession. Photo: Yahoo Lifestyle Australia
This is where the royal baby is in the line of succession. Photo: Yahoo Lifestyle Australia

Speaking to the BBC, royal expert and author Katie Nicholl says, “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.”

In the lead-up to the birth of their first child, Harry and Meghan announced that details around the birth would be kept private.

Royal baby: Baby Sussex is born
Harry outside Windsor Castle [Photo: Getty]

While the media would be informed when Meghan had gone into labour and the baby had been born, they said there would not be a post-birth photocall until they had spent some time with their newborn in private first.

Prince Harry spoke to the media at Windsor Castle to confirm the news, revealing that he and Meghan were “absolutely thrilled” by the arrival of their son in the early hours of May 6.

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.”

He said they had not yet decided on a name for the child and would make their first appearance as a family in a couple of days’ time.

The first photographs of the newborn are expected within the coming days.

For everything we know about the royal baby, check out our coverage here.

Words by Danielle Stacey

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