Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are elated to confirm that their son, Archie Harrison, is "going to be a big brother" as they are expecting their second child.
In a statement released on Valentine's Day, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed the pregnancy but gave no further details on how Meghan is far along, according to E! News.
While the pair did not confirm a due date, the accompanying photo for the birth announcement, taken by photographer Misan Harriman, reveals Meghan's protruding baby belly. This suggests that the 39-year-old royal could be in her second trimester.
Harry and Meghan's baby news comes after their baby loss in July 2020, when Meghan wrote an op-ed piece in The New York Times to reveal that she had a miscarriage. In the piece, Meghan highlighted that pregnancy loss is often not talked about for its "unwarranted shame" and she was praised for speaking up on a subject that remains taboo.
The Sussex pair's second baby will likely be the last. In an interview with British Vogue in September 2019, Harry told his friend, environmentalist Jane Goodall, that they only want two children maximum to lessen their carbon footprint.
The Sussex baby will become the fifth grandchild of Prince Charles and the 11th great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth, after the birth of Princess Eugenie's son this February and the upcoming birth of Zara Tindall's third baby in the spring.
The child will also likely be in line to the throne after Archie. The Sussex couple's almost-two-year-old son is currently the 7th in line after Harry. The Duke of Sussex wasn't removed from the succession line despite stepping back from his royal duties in early 2020 with Meghan.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and Prince Charles are, reportedly, "delighted" about the baby news from Harry and Meghan, per an official statement from Buckingham Palace.
Harry and Meghan are currently based in California and haven't returned to the United Kingdom since the pandemic. The couple was invited to join the royal family at the Trooping the Colour parade in June but sources from Meghan's people said she will not be able to fly with her husband.
The insider revealed that the decision was not a snub of the invite but the Sussexes didn't want to "overshadow" the event knowing that the British press will be fixated on Harry and Meghan's return. The news of the pregnancy confirms the real reason for Meghan's decision to stay behind while Harry returns to his family for the special events.
While Archie was born in London at The Portland Hospital, Meghan will likely give birth to her second child in the U.S. (Business Times)