Royal baby Sussex first pictures plus everything we know about Meghan and Harry’s baby boy 👶

From Harry and Meghan's plans after the birth to who will have custody of the royal baby (the answer isn't as straightforward as you think) here's everything we know so far and the very first pictures of the seventh in line to the throne

It has been announced that the Duchess of Sussex has given birth to a baby boy, who will be seventh in line to the throne. The announcement was made via the Sussex Royal Instagram account. The as yet unnamed boy was born in the early hours of 6th May, weighing 7lbs, 3oz

Check out the first pictures of baby Sussex

From the moment Harry and Meghan announced they were expecting in Australia last October, the unborn Baby Sussex was being described as a ‘royal rule breaker’ on account of its Anglo-American heritage. They will also be the first biracial baby in line to the British throne.

One thing we know for sure is that Meghan and Harry are keen to raise their child out of the spotlight and this is one of the key reasons the couple relocated from Kensington Palace to Windsor. ‘Harry is fiercely protective of Meghan and will be the same with his child. He wants them to enjoy a life away from the spotlight,’ says royal author, Katie Nicholl.

CHECK OUT royal baby pics from the last 100 years

Why won’t the royal baby be a HRH?

Katie Nicholl also points out how as the couple are so keen to raise baby Sussex as a ‘normal’ child, it is unlikely HE/SHE or any future siblings will have an HRH title. ‘They will most likely be following the same template Princess Anne used with Peter and Zara Phillips,’ she says.

But if they do choose to follow tradition, if the first born is a boy, he will become Earl of Dumbarton, which is one of Harry’s lesser titles and if it is a girl, she will be Lady [name] Mountbatten-Windsor as at present, only a male first born can inherit a Dukedom. The baby’s cousins, the Cambridge children, are all HRH. As third in line to the throne, Prince George is immediately an HRH, but following the birth of Princess Charlotte, the Queen intervened so that all his siblings would have the prefix of Prince or Princess.

[What will the royal baby's surname be? ](https://graziadaily.co.uk/celebrity/news/meghan-harry-baby-surname/surname/)

At school Kate and William's children simply by the surname ‘Cambridge’, which is what the Sussex children will also be known as at school.

Who will have custody of the royal baby?

This sounds like a strange question to ask, but an obscure piece of royal protocol means that the queen has custody of all minor royals, including Harry and Meghan's children...

How will the royal baby be raised differently to William and Kate's children?

Our only real reference point for our Harry and Meghan will raise their children is Kate and William’s parenting style. But there is a very simple answer as to why Meghan and Harry won’t be following the same path as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and it’s all down to royal protocol. Here, we’ve explored all of the ways baby Sussex will be raised differently to our beloved Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte - with all the reasons why

Who will be in Meghan's support network?

Grazia has learnt that Meghan and Harry will be employing the services of a Hollywood nanny who will live with the couple for the next few months.

Sources claim that Meghan was recommended the nanny by her close friend Amal Clooney.

‘The nanny is highly sought-after in Hollywood and has worked with many A-listers, so is incredibly discreet.’ Meghan’s yoga instructor mother, Doria Ragland, has already flown over from LA to stay at Frogmore cottage and sources say the £3million renovations at the property included creating a room, earmarked specifically for the new grandmother.

In recent months, sources say Meghan has been relying heavily on her coterie of A-list friends, especially Mrs Clooney.

‘Amal is Meghan’s role model when it comes to juggling her work life with parenthood, keeping the children out of the spotlight and preparing for the birth. She has certainly been speaking to her a lot more than Kate Middleton,’ said a source. As Grazia has previously revealed, on recommendation from the Queen, Meghan has also been forging a friendship with Windsor neighbour and fellow royal, Sophie, Countess of Wessex.

Will Meghan take maternity leave?

Royal author, Robert Jobson tells Grazia it is unlikely there will be pressure for Meghan to return to work before she’s ready. ‘There won’t be pressure from the Queen,’ he says, ‘But it will be likely she won’t take longer than six months which is what Kate took. I expect she will get back to work relatively quickly because of the way she is.’

Indeed, Nicholl says that courtiers have said there are already dates pencilled in Meghan’s diary for October, ‘They are not confirmed yet, but she is already planning her diary for October and is expected to attend a couple appointments that month.’

How will Harry and Meghan divide their time between London and Windsor?

One of the greatest challenges facing the couple in their new life is how they are going to manage their time. ‘It can take up to an hour and a half to get into central London from Windsor,’ says Nicholl, ‘and courtiers are already trying to work out how Meghan and Harry are going to divide their time. Juggling a home life with a new baby in Windsor and a court at Buckingham palace is going to be difficult. Also, all their charities head offices are in London, so this is one of the biggest challenges they face.’

How have Harry and Meghan made Frogmore Cottage ready for the new baby?

It has been reported that as part of the £3million renovations at Frogmore Cottage, Prince Harry personally oversaw a state-of-the-art, high tech nursery complete with camera and video equipment. The 10-bedroom, Grade II listed property also now boasts a ‘floating mother and baby yoga studio’ (with a sprung floor) and an organic vegetable patch in the garden. The couple employed the services of Soho House interior designer, Vicky Charles, and have chosen a neutral palette of greys and whites for the nursery.

‘When it comes to dressing the baby, Meghan and Harry will not be adhering to traditional gender colours like pink for girls and blue for boys,’ says Katie Nicholl. ‘Meghan has told friends she wants a more gender-fluid approach.’

What will Harry and Meghan's baby's christening be like?

As the Queen is head of the Church of England, Jobson points out that a christening will definitely take place within the next few months. ‘It will probably be a more private event,’ he says. ‘More like Prince Louis’, as the Sussex child will only be seventh in line to the throne.’ Reports have suggested St. George’s Chapel at Windsor as the most likely venue, where the couple were married last May. The baby will wear the family christening gown, which is a replica of the lace and satin robe originally made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter in 1841.

Who will be the new royal baby’s Godparents?

Given the A-list roster of guests at their wedding last year, it is little wonder that speculation is rife as to what famous names could be in the running for Godparents. It is tradition for royal babies to have five-eight Godparents. While George Clooney last month laughed off the rumours that he might be chosen, (‘Oh yes, I’ll be the Godfather of the royals apparently,’ he told press before stating, ‘no’,) both he and Amal remain favourites.

Also, high up on the list of contenders are Jessica and Ben Mulroney, whose twin boys, John and Brian, were page boys at the wedding. Jessica is Meghan’s closest friend and stylist, and she and her husband reportedly helped keep Harry and Meghan’s relationship a secret in the early days of their romance, allowing the couple to stay at their home in Toronto.

Serena Williams is also another strong candidate. The tennis ace has spoken out about her long-standing and close relationship with Meghan and was reported to have arranged her controversial £300,000 New York baby shower in February.

Less starry runners are some of Harry’s old pals, including Captain Mark Dyer, who acted as mentor to the Prince following Diana’s death. His son, Jasper is Harry’s godson and was also a pageboy at the wedding.

Harry’s childhood friend, Charlie van Straubenzee is also a favourite, (Harry was an usher at his wedding last summer) as is Meghan’s old friend, Benita Litt. Less likely names in the frame include James Blunt, Priyanka Chopra and Oprah Winfrey, the latter of whom Harry has recently launched a mental health initiative with.

Where will the royal baby go to school?

It has been reported that Harry and Meghan have been investigating sending their child to the formerly named American Community School in Windsor, which some are suggesting may be convenient if one day the family wanted to relocate to Meghan’s native USA. ‘It’s too soon to speculate about a move to the States, but an American school would certainly give them that option,’ says Nicholl. If the couple were to move to the States, Robert Jobson says it would not be impossible. ‘If that is something they wanted to do later down the line, I don’t see why they wouldn’t and they would certainly be allowed to,’ he says.

Are Harry and Meghan planning on taking the baby on a royal tour this year?

It has been reported that the couple intend to take their baby on a tour of the States and Canada in the Autumn, but at present nothing has been confirmed and according to sources it could be postponed until early 2020.