Meghan Markle gave birth to Baby Sussex in hospital with Prince Harry and mum Doria Ragland by her side
The Royal couple had hoped for a home birth at Frogmore Cottage
MEGHAN gave birth in hospital with Prince Harry on one side and her mum Doria on the other.
The Royal couple had hoped for a home birth at Frogmore Cottage in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
But late on Sunday the Duchess, 37, was driven to the private Portland Hospital, central London, by Harry and their Scotland Yard security team.
It is understood Meghan remained there overnight on Sunday before going into labour in the early hours of yesterday morning.
Sources said the operation to get Meghan to the clinic was so secret that even senior royals were not told.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment, but sources confirmed that a hospital delivery had taken place.
Within hours the couple were back at Frogmore where Harry, 34, gave an impromptu press conference.
'BY HER SIDE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY'
The couple had been so relaxed in the days leading up to the birth that they hosted friends at Frogmore on Sunday — just hours before Meghan belatedly went into labour.
A pal told The Sun: “It’s quite incredible really.
“Harry and Meghan had guests over despite Meghan being a week overdue at that point.
“She went into labour naturally some time on Sunday evening.
“Her mum and Harry were by her side every step of the way to support and encourage her.”
'WITHOUT ANY HITCHES'
Mum Doria Ragland, 62, is said to have landed in Britain last month, well before Meghan’s due date.
Sources close to the family have said that she had been determined to be by her daughter’s side.
The Sun reported yesterday that the tense finale of Line Of Duty may bring on Meghan’s labour — and it seemed to have done the trick.
Royal aides refused to give any details about the team that helped deliver the baby.
Nor did they confirm where the baby was born — repeatedly saying the birth was “private”.
But Meghan’s labour was said to have proceeded without any apparent hitches and she did not need a c-section.
The Queen’s doctors, Alan Farthing and Guy Thorpe-Beeston, were said to have been ready but were not needed.
'MEGHAN HAD ALWAYS WANTED A HOME BIRTH'
Frimley Park Hospital — 30 minutes away in Camberley, Surrey — had also been put on standby.
Meghan had wanted a female-led midwife delivery. She and Harry had overseen a £3million refurbishment of Frogmore Cottage, with the modern nursery covered in gender-neutral colours using only vegan paints.
A royal source said: “Meghan had always wanted a home birth and that plan had never changed.”
It would have been the first senior royal home birth for 55 years. The last was Prince Edward, born at Buckingham Palace in 1964.
The new parents had practised hypno-birthing and “wellness techniques” — such as chanting, aromatherapy and massage with essential oils — in the hope of reducing any need for an epidural or pain relief.
As well as a home birth, Los Angeles-born Meghan made it clear she wanted privacy rather than posing outside with her newborn shortly after.
In recent years the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London, had been the royals’ favoured venue for births.
Princess Anne had her first child, Peter Phillips, there in 1977, followed by daughter Zara in 1981.
Diana chose it for the births of William in 1982 and Harry in 1984. Kate followed in 2013, 2015 and 2018 with George, Charlotte and Louis.
Meghan wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Queen, who had sons Charles, Andrew and Edward at Buckingham Palace.
She gave birth to Anne at Clarence House, while the Palace was being renovated.
Pair go for a 'manny'
THE Duchess of Sussex has decided that she wants an American nanny for her baby boy.
But there have been suggestions the royal couple may even hire a male nanny, or a ‘manny’.
Meghan is said to have enlisted the help of staff at a recruitment agency, who have been told to find a candidate able to start within the next three months. The successful applicant will earn up to £70,000 a year.
Kate and William, for their three children, hired Spaniard Maria Teresa Borrallo, who graduated from the prestigious Norland College for nannies in Bath.
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'BLESSED WITH HEALTH AND HAPPINESS'
Windsor town crier Tony Appleton, 83, dashed to the castle as soon as he heard that Meghan had gone into labour and arrived just in time to announce the birth. He finished with the words: “God save the Queen.”
Tony told The Sun: “It was strange. It feels like they’ve been playing games with us a bit. Either way, I’m delighted by the news and just glad I was able to get here on time without breaking the speed limit!”
He added: “Meghan and Harry have been keeping us guessing, but now the whole country is revelling in their happy news. The atmosphere in Windsor is terrific. We need more positive energy like this in our lives.
“I couldn’t be more delighted for the Duke and Duchess and hope their son is blessed with health and happiness.”
Palace's time puzzle
BUCKINGHAM Palace had royal fans scratching their heads yesterday by announcing Meghan was in labour nearly nine hours after she’d given birth.
The baffling chain of events started at 2pm, when the Palace press office said she had gone into labour and “an announcement will be made soon”.
But just 40 minutes later the Palace put out a second statement that revealed: “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs.”
It left royal enthusiasts racing to get a spot outside Windsor Castle to celebrate the birth.
Even Windsor town crier Tony Appleton, 83, who was at home when the first notification came through, only made it by the skin of his teeth to relay the news the tot had arrived.
The Palace had announced some weeks ago that there would be no information about the birth, beyond that it was happening.
Not knowing where it would take place, super-fans waited at the end of Windsor’s Long Walk, close to Frogmore Cottage.
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