Meghan, Britain’s Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry, has given birth to a baby boy, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs,” the palace said
“The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz. The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.”
Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Britain’s Prince Harry, went into labour in the early hours of Monday, Buckingham Palace said.
"The Duchess went into labor in the early hours of this morning. The Duke of Sussex (Harry) was by Her Royal Highness’ side," an earlier statement said.
The child, the couple's first, will be seventh in line to the British throne.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex was safely delivered of a son at 0526hrs.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
The baby weighs 7lbs 3oz and The Duke of Sussex was present for the birth.
Read the full announcement here: https://t.co/RCUFjQG8pe
A notice of birth has gone on display on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace following the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Sussexes’ son. pic.twitter.com/bKMZCtXHOq
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2019
Queen Elizabeth's grandson Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, a U.S.-born former actress, married in a lavish ceremony at the monarch's Windsor Castle home in May last year.
The baby is the eighth great grandchild of the 93-year-old queen, the world's longest-reigning monarch, and could be entitled to hold joint British and American citizenship according to nationality rules.
However, the child will not automatically be a prince or a princess as any such title will have to be bestowed by the Queen by issuing what is known as a letter patent.
The couple, officially titled the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have previously said they intended to keep the plans for the arrival of the new royal private.
After the birth, a notice will be posted on a ceremonial easel on the forecourt of the queen's London home Buckingham Palace, a tradition which dates back at least as far as 1837 when the palace became the sovereign’s official residence.
