Nine ways Meghan Markle’s baby daughter Lilibet will have a different life to George, Charlotte and Louis
MEGHAN Markle has given birth to her second baby, daughter Lilibet Diana, and the youngster is set to become one of the most famous tots in Britain.
Although the new royal - along with big brother Archie - will grow up in a life of privilege, it is expected they will have a very different upbringing to Prince William and Kate's kids.
Here’s how the baby could be raised differently to their cousins, George, Charlotte and Louis…
Will be a US citizen
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in a £11million mansion in Santa Barbara, California, after stepping down as senior royals last March.
Their daughter will be granted American citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment if she is born on American soil.
She will become eighth in line to the throne, after Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry and Archie.
Meghan previously gave birth to Archie at London's Portland Hospital in 2019.
Despite being born in the UK, Archie is likely to be eligible for dual nationality, although the family’s immigration status has not been made public.
Will likely not do full-time royal duties
Meghan and Harry stepped down from senior royal duties last March, so it is likely their children will enjoy more freedom.
Royal commentator Victoria Murphy said: “There’s no chance that this baby will ever be King or Queen, this baby has so much more freedom than William and Kate’s children do.”
She said they “will not be expected when they get older to carry out full-time royal duties” and this will give Meghan and Prince Harry’s baby the chance to “carve their own path”.
Meanwhile, the children of Prince William and Kate Middleton will all be closer heirs to the throne so are expected to do royal duties.
Currently the three sweet tots are third, fourth and fifth in line to the throne, ahead of Prince Harry being sixth and Archie being seventh.
May have to work for a living
Meghan and Harry are said to want their kids to have what Harry has described as “a relatively normal life”, according to a source close to the couple.
And due to them not being necessarily expected to do royal duties, they may have to get a job.
The baby isn’t the first royal to have to have to work, as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have had to do the same.
Won't grow up in a palace
Meghan and Harry initially lived in Kensington Palace before moving to Frogmore Cottage, which was gifted to them by the Queen.
However, they relocated to Canada when Archie was six months old and have now bought an £11million mansion in California, where Archie and his sister are likely to be raised.
It may not be a palace, but it boasts a pool, theatre, arcade, guest house and even a chicken coop.
Will have a different surname
When William and Harry were at school, they were known as William and Harry Wales - a consequence of their dad being Prince Charles of Wales.
And Kensington Palace confirmed George would be known as George Cambridge on the school register - his dad is Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.
However, Archie has the family surname Mountbatten-Windsor, so his younger sister is likely to follow suit.
American schooling
When Archie and his sister start school, Meghan and Harry will have a number of prestigious options to choose from.
One of the top establishments in Montecito is Laguna Blanca, which is a private co-ed day school that says it “celebrates the worth of the individual”.
It costs an eye-watering £20,000 a year and has a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1.
Alternatively, they could opt for the exclusive Crane Country School - also £20,000 a year - which has the mantra that “rigor and joy go hand-in-hand.”
Less photo access
Kate and William often release photos of George, Charlotte and Louis at key milestones in their life, such as birthdays and when they start school.
However, since moving to the US, Meghan and Harry have so far released far fewer pictures of their son since quitting royal life.
While they did show Archie off a few days after Meghan gave birth, it is likely we won't get an official photocall for their daughter.
Californian beaches to play on
Given its spot on the sun-soaked Californian coast, Montecito looks perfect for days spent outdoors on the beach.
There are a number of impressive sandy shores for the royal kids to explore, and locals love surfing and swimming to unwind.
Some of the beaches, like Arroyo Burro Beach County Park, are even dog-friendly, so the couple’s pooches can also take part in the fun.
Celebrity playmates
Archie and his sister will have lots of celebrity children to befriend in the local area.
Natalie Portman’s children, Aleph and Amalia, and the nearby Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have daughter Wyatt and son Dimitri.
Meghan’s best pal, designer Misha Nonoo, lives an hour down the coast in Malibu, and gave birth to son Leo Hess last March.
More on the royal family
We shared the Queen’s ‘sadness at barely seeing Archie’ and why she ‘won’t meet Meghan & Harry’s new baby unless they come to the UK’.
Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace aides "rolled their eyes" when discussing Meghan Markle's "common" baby shower, the author of Finding Freedom claimed.