Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex share with the world their son Prince Archie
A LOOK INTO THE THE ROYALS MEGHAN & HARRY FALLING IN LOVE TO WELCOMING THEIR FIRST CHILD INTO THE WORLD.
THE COUPLE HAVE BEEN GLOBALLY INFLUENCING PEOPLE TO CARE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER MORE, TO PAY ATTENTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE, TO BEING HANDS ON IN BOTSWANA, HELPING THOSE IN NEED ON THEIR SOUTH AFRICA TOUR.
BY JEFF SPICER/BFC/GETTY IMAGES
PREGNANT Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, showed off her prominent baby bump in a stunning black one-shouldered Givenchy gown during an unexpected appearance at the British Fashion Awards.
On December 10, 2018, Meghan wore a custom Givenchy gown to present an award to Clare Waight Keller, the house’s designer, who also made her wedding dress, along with a pair of gold Tamara Mellon sandals. She completed her look with gold "Karat" heel by Tamara Mellon and a gold cuff bracelet.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, greeted the press inside Windsor Castle early Wednesday with their new son. The couple welcomed the baby, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a photocall with their newborn son, in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle, Windsor, south England, Wednesday May 8, 2019. Baby Sussex was born Monday at 5:26 a.m. (0426 GMT; 12:26 a.m. EDT).
(Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP) (The Associated Press).
Meghan and Harry: A Royal Baby Story ramps up the excitement as latest royal arrives. But this is no ordinary regal baby; there is now a mixed race, half American member of the British aristocracy, whose parents happen to be the hottest couple on the planet.
Featuring interviews with historians, royal experts and insiders, the documentary explores unusual royal birthing traditions, how to cope with the domestic politics of life with a royal nanny and to how to juggle mothering with royal duties.
Secrets of the Royal Babies visits the Norland College nanny school in Bath, which is the go-to place for royal childcare, and Glamis Castle in Scotland, where young Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret could escape the glare of the media and formality of the Royal Court. The documentary also asks how Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex can learn from royal mothers before her - from Queen Victoria through to Princess Diana and the most recent royal mom, the Duchess of Cambridge.
BIRKENHEAD, UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 14: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex meet members of the public during a visit of Birkenhead at Hamilton Square on January 14, 2019 in Birkenhead, UK. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage).
Meghan in a look that is similar to Princess Diana. Meghah in a purple dress from Babaton by Aritizia, red coat by Sentaler with matching heels and a brown leather Gabriela Hearst bag in Birkenhead, England.
Get the look: Gabriela Hearst bag, $1,995, net-a-porter.com.
(Mark Blinch/Reuters)
Prince Harry Meghan Markle first photographed together in Toronto during the Invictus Games on Sept. 25, 2017. Here's a visual look at the romantic relationship between Harry and Meghan.
(Matt Dunham/The Associated Press)
Harry and Meghan pose at Kensington Palace in London on Nov. 27, 2017, following the announcement of their engagement. Later, it was revealed that their wedding would take place at noon on May 19, 2018, in St. George's Chapel, the church on the grounds of Windsor Castle that has long been a backdrop of choice for royal occasions.
In so many ways, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have already challenged the royal status quo. By being a divorced, biracial American who is famous in her own right, Meghan has already changed how people imagine a royal spouse. That, combined with Harry's history of chafing at the constraints of royal life, makes them a very different royal couple than those that came before them.
The new documentary Secrets of the Royal Babies looks at how royal parenting has changed over the last several centuries and speculates as to how Meghan and Harry may do things differently than their predecessors.
Beloved Princess Diana, Prince Charles with children Harry and William. Courtesy of CBC
LESS-TRADITIONAL BABY NAME
The protocols around royal naming are famously strict, but according to the Secrets of the Royal Babies, the most modern royal couple yet may try to push the envelope just a little bit.
"Although I doubt we'll see a full-blown American name, maybe they will be a little bit bolder, a little bit less royal in their choices than William and Kate felt the need to do," said historian Sarah Gristwood before Archie was born.
Archie will be known as Master Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, as Harry and Meghan decided not to give him a title.
On British betting sites, traditionally royal names are the odds-on favourites — Alice, Diana and Victoria for a girl, Arthur, James and Alexander for a boy.
Engagement photos for Harry and Meghan by (Alexi Lubomirski/Kensington Palace/Twitter)
HANDS-ON PARENTING
For centuries, little royals have been raised largely by their nannies. Royal duties are time consuming and often involve gruelling travel schedules, which can make hands-on parenting hard. But Harry's mother took an unusually active role in raising her children, and royal watchers who appear in the documentary say that Harry and Meghan may try to be similarly involved.
If they do end up getting a nanny, she'll almost certainly come from Norland College. Norland has been training nannies for the Royal Family — and other members of the elite — since 1892.
In Secrets of the Royal Babies, a modern Norland nanny is described as a mixture of Mary Poppins and James Bond. They're not only taught about child development, but these ninja nannies are also trained in skidpan driving and military self-defence techniques.
QUEEN ELIZABETH WITH PRINCE CHARLES - CBC
MORE MODERN ATTIRE
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have opted to dress their children in a very traditional, conservative style. Or, as royal biographer Duncan Larcombe puts it in Secrets of the Royal Babies, "William and Kate's children … look like they've dressed as extras from an Enid Blyton novel — you know, the little shorts and the black shoes and the little socks." But Harry and Meghan might opt for a more modern look for their little one.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see this little toddler romping in a pair of dungarees," says royal reporter Katie Nicholl.
Harry and Meghan were wed in Windsor on May 19, 2018. Queen Elizabeth gave them the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (Neil Hall/EPA-EFE)
CELEBRITY GODPARENTS
Traditionally, the godparents of young royals have been members of the English aristocracy, close relatives or members of other royal families. But some royal watchers think Meghan and Harry may make less traditional choices. Their wedding guest list read like the cover of a celebrity tabloid, featuring David and Victoria Beckham, George and Amal Clooney, Idris Elba, James Blunt and Priyanka Chopra.
Prince William and Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan - the new generation of royals has modernized the British royal family from public displays of affection to speaking candidly about mental health. CBC
Britain's Prince Harry, right, and wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wave at onlookers as they arrive for their visit to the launch of the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition in London Tuesday. (Matt Dunham/Associated Press)
A fondness for Canadian fashion apparently hasn't waned for Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex.
The former Toronto resident was photographed this morning wearing a sleeveless trench dress by the Calgary brand Nonie.
The new royal wore the tailored garment while attending the official opening of the Nelson Mandela Centenary Exhibition in London alongside her husband, Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry.
QUEEN VICTORIA - CBC
According to the royal watchers in Secrets of the Royal Babies, there's every possibility that some of these names could appear on the shortlist of potential godparents.
(Chris Jackson/Reuters)
Harry and Meghan arrived in Sydney for a 16-day tour of Australia and the South Pacific, on Oct. 16, 2018, just hours before Kensington Palace announced that the royal couple are expecting their first child. The pregnant Duchess of Sussex had her schedule cut back during their first major royal tour, which included more than 70 engagements in four countries.
A COTTAGE HOME
Kensington Palace was Harry's childhood home and is currently home to Prince William's family. Harry and Meghan were even thought to be moving into a 21-room apartment in the palace, until recently. But that doesn't mean Harry likes palace life.
"Harry finds the constraints of Kensington Palace too much," says royal biographer Ingrid Seward in Secrets of the Royal Babies. "He was the one that said that Kate is a prisoner there because although it's absolutely beautiful, the minute you go outside the protective walls, you've got people gawping at you."
WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 10: A general view of Frogmore Cottage at Frogmore Cottage on April 10, 2019 in Windsor, England. The cottage is situated on the Frogmore Estate, itself part of Home Park, Windsor, in Berkshire. It is the new home of Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. (Photo by GOR/Getty Images).
Instead, Harry and Meghan will forgo palace life and set up their family in Frogmore Cottage. The Cottage, located just south of Windsor Castle, has been used as a home for exiled Russian royalty. And what it lacks in grandiosity, it makes up for in privacy. In the documentary, former royal chef Darren McGrady, who used to live next door to Frogmore Cottage, describes it as a "little sort of cocoon."
"It's so peaceful, so tranquil," McGrady says in the documentary. "The castle grounds are so big that they can just hide away... opening the back door into the gardens of Frogmore and just being able to go walking and just sort of have new family time together."
Prince Harry says he and wife Meghan will have no more than two children because of concerns for the environment. Harry interviewed primatologist Jane Goodall for Vogue magazine, and said becoming a father to baby Archie in May had changed his perspective. (Dominic Lipinski/The Associated Press).
Prince Harry says he and his wife Meghan will have no more than two children because of concerns for the environment
In an interview with primatologist Jane Goodall for British Vogue, Harry said becoming a father in May had changed his perspective.
He said, "I view it differently now, without question. But I've always wanted to try and ensure that, even before having a child and hoping to have children," Harry said before Goodall interjected: "Not too many!"
Harry replied: "Two, maximum! But I've always thought: this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation."
Prince Harry went with his heart and changed the royal rulebook – and it wasn’t long before the media speculated when news of a new royal baby would be announced.
Watch on CBC Gem
Secrets of the Royal Babies tells the extraordinary tales of royal births, motherhood, and infancy that have paved the way to this day and asks what Meghan and Harry might expect from this next stage of their lives.
Prince Harry has said the science on the climate crisis is undeniable as, led by Greta Thunberg, the “world’s children are striking” to force action.
Arch meets Archie!
This morning The Duke and Duchess were honoured to introduce their son Archie, to Archbishop, Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka.
The Archbishop, a globally respected figure in anti-apartheid movement, is one of the world’s great champions of equality, and has spent his life tirelessly battling injustice.
Their Royal Highnesses have joined The Archbishop and Thandeka to learn more about the work of The Tutu and Leah Legacy Foundation, and see first-hand how they are focussing on global awareness of the critical issues affecting the world.
"Royal Visit South Africa" Photo ©️ Reuters
Watch Secrets of the Royal Babies documentary on CBC News Network, and CBC GEM. Originally aired on CBC in April 2019.
COURTESY OF CBC