Meghan Markle and Prince Harry told the Queen baby news privately but Palace ‘caught off guard with public announcement’
MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry revealed their exciting baby news to the Queen - but Palace officials were "caught off guard" by their public announcement.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last night announced they were expecting their second baby.
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Sharing the news with a sweet black and white pic of the couple sitting together under a tree, they gushed son Archie would be a big brother soon.
Prince Harry's grandmother the Queen said the entire family was "delighted" with the news.
But it has been claimed the Sussexes had not informed Buckingham Palace staff that they would announce the baby news.
MailOnline reported officials were caught "off guard" and they didn't have a statement prepared.
It comes as...
- Bookies have revealed their top picks for baby names - including Diana and Alfie
- Harry has previously revealed he wanted two kids
- Piers Morgan attacked the happy couple for their 'cheesy' pregnancy pic
- Here is how Meghan appears to have kept her pregnancy secret
- Harry and Meghan's touching tribute to Diana in the announcement has been revealed
- Meghan won a high court privacy battle in a blow to press freedom
- The Duchess is tipped to "do an Arnie" and run for office in the US
- Just days ago Harry's cousin Princess Eugenie gave birth to her new son
In a short statement last night, Buckingham Palace said: "Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the entire family are delighted and wish them well."
It was today reported by ITV that Prince Harry has remained close with the Queen despite Megxit.
It was claimed he often speaks with the 94-year-old monarch despite reported tensions between his brother Prince William and dad Prince Charles.
Meghan and Harry's announcement on Valentine's Day was a sweet nod to Princess Diana, who announced with Prince Charles exactly 37 years ago that they were expecting their second child - Prince Harry.
In a statement, the couple's spokesperson said: "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child."
A photograph of the couple was also released, showing the couple under a tree, with Harry resting his hand on Meghan's head as she cradles her bump.
Long-term friend and Vogue contributing photographer Misan Harriman captured the snap remotely, later saying: “With the tree of life behind them and the garden representing fertility, life and moving forward, they didn’t need any direction, because they are, and always have been, waltzing through life together as absolute soulmates."
Meghan, 39, and Harry, 36, quit the Royal Family last year - moving to the US to raise their one-year-old son Archie.
The couple had been expected to have a review 12 months after agreeing to step back from their senior role.
BABY JOY
And it was reported just last week that Meghan was not expected to join Harry if he returned to the UK for the first time since Megxit anytime soon - a possible hint to their baby news.
The news was shared just days after Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their son.
Baby Sussex will be The Queen's 10th or 11th great-grandchild - depending on whether he or she arrives before or after Zara Tindall's baby, who is also due in 2021.
And he or she will be Prince Charles fifth grandchild, joining Archie and Prince William's children with George, Charlotte and Louis.
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Meghan and Harry were married in May 2018 at St George's Chapel, going on to welcome son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor into the world a year later.
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The couple kept the birth of Archie very private and chose not to reveal the hospital where he would be born or pose for pictures with him immediately after his arrival. His christening was also a private affair.
The Sun Online has contacted Buckingham Palace and representatives for the Sussexes for comment.
