Royal Life Magazine – Issue 42

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Hello and welcome to the latest issue of Royal Life. Those pesky print deadlines mean that we can’t bring you all the news on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s happy new arrival until next issue, but it looks like we will all have to wait anyway because, just as we were going to press, Buckingham Palace announced that the couple were planning to keep the arrangements for the birth of their first child private.

Prince Harry and Meghan’s household said in a statement: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby.
“Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. “The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.”

The announcement appeared to confirm reports that there would be no immediate photo of the newborn. There have also been no indications of where Meghan plans to have the baby, due end of April/early May. Speculation has included that she may opt for a midwife-led home birth, or choose the NHS Frimley Park hospital, which is near the couple’s new home, Frogmore Cottage, Windsor.

Sources have said the couple want to avoid the glare of publicity which surrounded the births of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three children, which saw huge numbers of media and well-wishers gather outside the Lindo Wing, the private maternity unit of St Mary’s Hospital in west London. The absence of a public photocall is in stark contrast to Prince William and Catherine, who posed on the steps of the hospital to present their newborns to the world only hours after the births of Prince George in 2013, Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis last year.

The photocall had become a tradition for Royal watchers, but while Prince William and his oldest child Prince George are the second and third-in-line to the throne, Prince Harry and his son or daughter are not in the direct line of succession. In this way, Prince Harry appears to have followed the lead of his cousin Zara Tindall, who did not announce the arrangements for the births of her two daughters.

The baby’s name will not be announced immediately, but the name Diana remains the bookmakers’ favourite if the child is a girl, followed by Victoria and Alice. Albert and Philip are the most popular boy’s names. The child will be seventh in line of succession and may not be styled an HRH if the Sussexes follow Prince Edward and Princess Anne, who wanted less public attention on their children.

Whatever birthing choice the couple decide to make we are sure that by the time our next issue hits newsstands we will be able to bring you all the details as well as some lovely picture coverage – we hear that Meghan plans to take the official photographs herself, which the Duchess of Cambridge has done too, of course. Meanwhile, enjoy this great new issue of Royal Life.
Allan Bryce, Editor

Included in this issue:

• The Queen in Somerset
• Royal Life News
• Competition – A Royal Lullaby
• The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – Preparing for family life
• Competition – Meet Royal Warrant Holders – Stanley Gibbons Ltd
• The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on a Royal Caribbean Tour
• The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take a Royal trip to the seaside
• A Connected Commonwealth

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