Prince Harry was "almost morbidly obsessed" with keeping his son Archie's birth a secret for as long as possible, a new book has claimed.
Harry and wife Meghan Markle welcomed Archie in May 2019 - almost a year after their fairytale wedding in Windsor and at a time when they were still working royals. The birth took place at London's private Portland Hospital and the couple decided against doing an official photo call outside the hospital after his birth. There was some confusion on the day as Archie was born before Buckingham Palace had even confirmed that Meghan was in labour.
And according to new book, The New Royals by royal expert and author Katie Nicholl, both Harry and Meghan wanted privacy before introducing Archie to the world.
She writes: "One source described Harry as being "almost morbidly obsessed" with keeping Archie's birth as secret as possible, breaching the unwritten contract between the royals and public.
"Harry and Meghan had wanted some time as a new family before they presented their son Archie to the world. A brief photo opportunity with a single reporter to ask questions took place two days after the birth in St George's Hall at Windsor Castle.
"A historic photograph of the Queen and Prince Prince Philip and Meghan's mother Doria, with the baby (not yet named) and Harry and Meghan was an unexpected bonus."
Meanwhile, the book also claims the Queen had a heartbreaking reaction when she heard Harry and Meghan were stepping down as senior royals and moving to the US.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be leaving their roles as working royals in early 2020 - and a source close to Her Majesty claims she was hurt by the decision.
The couple were allowed to leave the Firm, but couldn't use their HRH titles in their quest to become financially independent.
At the time, the Queen thanked the couple for their "dedicated" work, adding: "It is my whole family’s hope that today’s agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.”
But the book quotes a source as saying: "She was very hurt and told me, ‘I don’t know, I don’t care, and I don’t want to think about it anymore.'"
It goes on to claim that the 96-year-old monarch saw very little of her great-grandchildren Archie and Lilibet.
It comes after Harry and Meghan were by the royal family's side during the Queen's funeral.
They extended their stay in the UK for the funeral and were seen side-by-side with Prince William and Kate as they greeted mourners outside Windsor Castle.
