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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Health
Sarah Young, Olivia Petter, Chelsea Ritschel, Sabrina Barr, Katie O'Malley

Royal baby latest: World waits for name to be revealed after Meghan Markle gives birth to boy

The Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a baby boy, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The duchess went into labour during the early hours of Monday morning. Prince Harry was by her side.

A statement was released on the royal couple's official Instagram account, revealing that the baby was born before 6am.

"We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019," the statement reads.

"Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz."

The announcement adds that the duchess and the newborn are both "healthy and well".

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While in Berlin, the Prince of Wales expressed his joy over the birth of his new grandson, in both German and English. 
 
According to royal correspondent Rebecca English, Prince Charles said: "Of course, it is also a particular pleasure to be back in Berlin once again - especially as the grandfather of a brand new grandson!"
 


 
Prince Charles accepted gifts on behalf of his newest grandson earlier in the day, including a teddy bear from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
 
Cadbury World has celebrated the arrival of the royal baby with a giant teddy bear made entirely of chocolate.
 
The bear, which measures a foot-and-a-half tall and weighs 28kg, took two days to make. 
 
This is the fourth time the chocolatiers have celebrated the birth of a royal baby with a chocolate creation. 
The youngest royal may only be a day old but he's already being showered with gifts.
 
Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who are currently in Germany, have received two gifts to give their new grandchild - a teddy bear from German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and a onesie from an organisation for victims of domestic violence. 
 
Upon receiving the gift, the duchess reportedly said: "As soon as we return I will deliver it to them, direct from Germany. 

"I'm sure they will be thrilled."
 

 
Following the arrival of the royal baby, the Queen has shown her delight at being a great-grandmother an eighth time over.
 
During a luncheon for members of the Order of Merit, the Queen smiled as she answered questions about the newest royal, telling former Prime Minister of Canada the Rt Hon Jean Chretien that she is now a great-grandmother to "eight".
 
The Queen was joined by her husband Prince Philip.
 
While Prince Harry and Meghan may decide for their son not to have any title, the baby may receive a subsidiary title granted to the duke by the Queen on the day of his wedding.
 
The title in question has links to an ancient Scottish kingdom.
 

Prince Charles 'couldn't be more delighted' with news of royal baby'

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are currently in Berlin
 
The Prince of Wales has said that he and the Duchess of Cornwall, who are both on an official visit to Berlin, "couldn't be more delighted" to hear that the Duchess of Sussex had given birth to a baby boy on Monday.
 
"We're looking forward to meeting the baby when we return," he added. 

What really happens at a home birth?

Michelle Gyimah: ‘So many thoughts were running through my head about whether this baby was going to survive’
 
While the world waits for more details surrounding The Duchess of Sussex' birth plan – everything remains shrouded in secrecy – many are speculating that Meghan opted to give birth to her son at home. 
 
Buckingham Palace has announced that she and Prince Harry are currently celebrating the arrival of their new family member at Frogmore House in Windsor, though it's not clear whether or not Meghan gave birth there or at The Portland Hospital in London.
 
If she did indeed choose to have a home birth, there are a multitude of things that could've gone wrong. That is, if the seven women who shared their experiences of giving birth at home with The Independent are anything to go by.
 
From the concerning to the miraculous, read their stories below.
 

7 women reveal what it's really like to give birth at home

Mothers tell Olivia Petter about the highs and lows of giving birth at home
Just hours after welcoming his first child, Prince Harry reportedly already felt the impact parenthood will have on his sleep. 

According to ITV, the Duke of Sussex told reporters off-camera: "I've had about two hours' sleep." 
 
Earlier during the public announcement, Prince Harry expressed his excitement and joy at becoming a father. 
 
"It's been the most amazing experience I can ever have possibly imagined," he said.

Doria Ragland 'overjoyed' by birth

Doria Ragland pictured with daughter, Meghan Markle, at her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018
 
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duchess of Sussex gave birth in the early hours of Monday morning.
 
While the location of the birth has not yet been disclosed, the Palace tweeted on Monday afternoon that Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, was with the couple at their home in Frogmore Cottage, Windsor,
 
"The Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, who is overjoyed by the arrival of her first grandchild, is with Their Royal Highnesses at Frogmore Cottage," it reads. "Her Royal Highness and the baby are both doing well."
 
 
An announcement revealing the name of the child is expected in due course.
Bookmakers have now revealed that the royal baby could be named Spencer, for Princess Diana's maiden name. 
 
After a flurry of bets over the last 24 hours, Spencer is now the third- most popular prediction, with 8-1 odds.
 
Alexander is currently the favourite possible baby name, followed by James and Arthur, which have 8-1 and 7-1 odds, respectively. 
 
Of the possibility that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will choose the name Spencer, Oddschecker spokesperson George Elek said: "It comes as something as a surprise to see the traditional names such as Alexander and James being amongst the favourites given the speculation that they will chose something 'unusual'.

"Spencer therefore seems more in line, whilst paying tribute to Prince Harry's late mother."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may honour Princess Diana with their child's name (Getty)
 
Babies born on Monday in a hospital in San Francisco were given golden crowns because they share a birthday with Baby Sussex.

Duchess of Cambridge 'looking forward' finding out name of royal baby

The Duchess of Cambridge is "looking forward" to meeting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' newborn son "and finding out what his name's going to be," she said ahead of an engagement with the Duke of Cambridge in Greenwich, London on Tuesday afternoon.
 
"These next few weeks are always a bit daunting the first time round so we wish them all the best," the mother-of-three added.
 
Kate went on to express her joy at the time of year that Meghan had given birth, having just celebrated the birthdays of two of her own children, Louis, one, and Charlotte, four.
 
"It's such a special time, obviously with Louis and Charlotte just having had their birthdays," she said. "It's such a great time of year to have a baby, spring is in the air."

Duke of Cambridge 'absolutely thrilled' by news of birth and welcomes brother into 'sleep deprivation society that is parenting'

The Duke of Cambridge has said he is "thrilled" by the news that his younger brother, the Duke of Sussex, welcomed his first child with the Duchess of Sussex on Monday.
 
Speaking ahead of an engagement in Greenwich, London on Tuesday afternoon, Prince William added that he is looking forward to seeing his brother "in the next few days when things have quietened down".
 
 
He added: "I'm very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting."
The band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland celebrated the arrival of Baby Sussex by playing "Congratulations" during the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle this morning.
 

Meghan Markle's former Suits co-star offers congratulations on Twitter

 
Before she was the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had a starring role in the US legal drama Suits.
 
Things have changed quite a bit for Markle, who gave birth to her first child with Prince Harry in the early hours of Monday morning. The son, who has yet to be named, will be seventh in line to the throne.
 
Markle's former co-star, Patrick J Adams, who played her love interest in the show, has offered his congratulations to the royal couple on Twitter, writing that he "couldn't be happier for Meghan and Harry as they begin this adventure".
 

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge "delighted" with news of royal baby

The couple have three children of their own
Kensington Palace has issued a statement in response to news of the royal baby's birth on Instagram.
 
"The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted with the news of the birth of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son today, and look forward to meeting the latest addition to the family," the caption reads.
 
 
The post then quotes from the announcement made on @sussexroyal, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex' dedicated Instagram account that launched earlier this year.
Michelle Obama welcomes Baby Sussex into the world
The former First Lady of America said she 'can't wait' to meet him
Michelle Obama is the latest famous face to issue her congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who welcomed their first child into the world in the early hours of Monday.
 
Writing on Twitter, the former First Lady said: "Congratulations, Meghan and Harry! Barack and I are so thrilled for both of you and can't wait to meet him. #RoyalBaby"
Will the royal baby become the Earl of Dumbarton?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex may choose not to give their son a title
 
As the world waits to find out whether or not the royal baby will have a title, there are speculations that if he does, it might have links to an ancient Scottish kingdom.
 
Given that the newborn is the son of a Duke, he is able to use the title Earl of Dumbarton, as this is one of the subsidiary titles that was given to Prince Harry by the Queen on his wedding day in May 2018.
 
The town of Dumbarton, which is west of Glasgow, was founded in the fifth century and was once the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde.
 
Read more about the royal baby's possible titles below.
 
"It is tradition that this goes on display on a ceremonial easel for members of the public to view for approximately 24 hours," Buckingham Palace wrote on Twitter.
 
The changing of the guard at Windsor Castle this morning celebrated the birth of the royal baby.
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