Royal Baby 2019: Everything you need to know
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The couple met after being set up on a blind date by a mutual friend in June 2016. Kensington Palace confirmed that they were dating in November that year and the couple announced their engagement 12 months later.
Their wedding was held in May 2018 at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The Palace announced Meghan was pregnant in October 2018, stating that the baby was due in spring 2019. The baby will be seventh in line to the throne. There has not been an announcement about the baby’s gender yet.
But there has been plenty of speculation about where the former Suits actress will give birth. Some reports have suggested that she’ll choose Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, while others claim she will opt for a home birth.
The Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London – where several Royal Babies have been born, including Prince Harry – is another option.
When is the Royal Baby due?
The official line is that the Royal Baby will be due in spring, but Meghan herself has given more specific details.
While speaking to fans at an event in Birkenhead earlier this year, she revealed that she was expecting to give birth at the end of April or in early May. Her remarks were captured on video and widely seen online.
Fans are keeping a close eye on the couple for further clues too. Harry and Meghan have recently launched an official Instagram account – @sussexroyal – which has prompted speculation that the birth could be imminent.
Is it a boy or a girl?
There’s been no word on whether they are expecting a boy or girl yet. Ladbrokes offer odds on the gender of the baby, with Girl currently odds-on favourite.
If Meghan and Harry do know the baby’s gender, they’re keeping the information to themselves.
When asked by a schoolgirl if she was having a boy or a girl, the Duchess of Sussex replied “We don’t know whether it’s a boy or a girl, we are keeping it as a surprise.”
However, Harry has hinted that he’d like a girl. A crowd member shouted “I hope it’s a girl,” at an event in October, to which Harry replied, “So do I.”
There were reports that the couple were planning to raise the child as gender-neutral, but they were denied by the Palace.
What will the Royal Baby be called?
As the Ladbrokes traders expect the Royal Baby to be a girl, it’s no surprise that female names head up the betting.
Diana and Elizabeth are the joint-favourites, with plenty of chatter that the baby could be named after Harry’s mother or grandmother. Victoria is also firmly in the running.
If the baby is a boy, Albert and Philip are the likeliest names, according to our traders.
But it’s unclear if the couple will go for a traditional royal name such as Edward or Alexandra, or something more modern.
A few of the more unlikely options that we’ve priced up include Donald at 250/1 and Brexit all the way out at 500/1.
How do they decide the name?
There’s no set way to name a child. Harry and Meghan could just go for a name they both like. But where’s the fun in that?
Some people name their children after sporting heroes. As Harry is an Arsenal fan, could we see a little Thierry or Arsene soon? Or could Meghan turn to her Los Angeles heritage and the LA Lakers by going for Shaquille or Kobe?
Meghan may even pay tribute to her time on Suits, with Mike, Harvey or Donna.
These may be outside-the-box options, but there don’t seem to be any rules when it comes to celebrity names. We’ve seen public figures name their offspring after fruit, colours and compass directions in recent years.
One approach the couple are almost certain to avoid is turning to the public. Remember ‘Boaty McBoatface’ and then ‘Horsey McHorseface’. We’ve blown our chance to help.
What about the date?
Meghan’s reveal that she could give birth at the end of April has led to plenty of speculation that the baby could share a birthday with the Queen on April 21. If the baby is born on that date, they could name it Elizabeth or Elijah as a tribute.
Other notable dates in the given timeframe include April 25th, which is also the birthday of King Edward II.
Famous explorer James Cook first landed in Australia on April 28th back in 1770. April 30th saw George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States of America in 1789. It’s also the day Queen Mary II was born in 1662.
Things to consider when picking a name
Royals tend to have long names, just look at Harry. The Duke of Sussex’s full name is Henry Charles Albert David.
But that means it’s important to consider the wider implications when Harry and Meghan are deciding middle names. For example, it would be very unfortunate if their child was named Benjamin Spencer. Or Philip Oscar Oliver Henry.
The same goes for potential nicknames. If it’s a boy, and they become a prince, Albert is almost certainly out of the question as a first name. A prince albert is the colloquial term for a particularly painful – and private – piercing.
Names and their meanings
Some traditional British names also have other meanings in different cultures.
Diana was a Roman goddess of the moon, who was known for her striking beauty. The other favourite, Elizabeth, means “God is my oath” in Hebrew.
Looking at the frontrunners for boy’s names, Albert has connotations of nobility and intelligence in Germany. It’s associated with Prince Albert and Albert Einstein.
Philip derives from the Greek word “Phillippos”, which means “fond of horses”. In Ancient Greece, the name was associated with the wealthy, as horses were very expensive.
As mentioned earlier, celebrities don’t like to follow the crowd when it comes to names.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their daughter Apple. Beyonce and Jay Z’s eldest daughter is Blue Ivy, and Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s first child is called North West.
Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon had twins in April 2011. They named one of them Moroccan, after the Moroccan-themed décor in Mariah’s apartment, obviously. His middle name is the much-less exotic Scott.
