The first time Meghan Markle was pregnant, she was still a working member of the royal family — as was Prince Harry. But everything has changed since then. So many things will be different for the Duchess of Sussex's most recent pregnancy and the couple's second child.
Many things will be easier. They're essentially private citizens now, so there's less pressure on them to live up to any previous royal standards for royal babies. For the most part, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did things by the book with Archie. They introduced him to the public, they got him christened, they took him on royal tours. But they don't have to do any of that with baby No. 2.
But some things will be harder. Living in Los Angeles has proved challenging with the paparazzi, and things will only get worse now that people will want to see Meghan's growing baby bump and photos of the new little one.
Here are all the ways this pregnancy will be different for the former royal couple.
Meghan Can Have a Shame-Free Baby Shower
Baby showers aren't common in England, so it was already unusual for Meghan to have one before Archie's birth. But then people also came down on her for the cost, because it was held in a $75,000-a-night hotel. Now that Meghan and Harry aren't working royals, she can spend whatever she wants on a baby shower without anyone complaining that she's wasting taxpayer money.
She Reportedly Wants to Give Birth in the US
Baby Archie was born in England, as is customary for royal children. But Meghan is now free to give birth wherever she wants — and she reportedly wants to stay in Los Angeles. It's a plan that she's apparently had since even before she and Harry quit their royal jobs.
"Meghan already told pals that when she comes to deliver her next baby, she'd like to do it in LA where she was born and bred," a supposed insider told Express in late 2019. "She said that being pregnant in the UK without any of her family and friends felt incredibly lonely and uncomfortable for her. So she's keen to change that the second time around."
The Baby Could Technically Be President & Also the Reigning Monarch
If the baby is indeed born in the US, he or she will be eligible to run for president of the United States some day. But also, in having Prince Harry as a father, the baby will be eighth in line for the throne. So there's a remote chance that baby Sussex could be both the president and the reigning monarch of England. It's unlikely, but it could happen. Honestly, it would make for an interesting movie.
Meghan & Harry Have No Obligation To Release Info
To be honest, Harry and Meghan hardly released any information about Archie's birth either. But following in the footsteps of royals before them, they did give the press the courtesy of knowing when he was born and that he was a boy. Now that they're not technically working public figures, Meghan and Harry don't have to tell us anything on any specific timeline.
... Including What the Baby's Name Is
Many celebs wait months to tell the press this kind of information about their children, including their names. The couple's second child will technically be a private citizen, so there's nothing forcing the Sussexes from keeping us all in suspense about the child's moniker.
There's No Pressure for a Royal Name
The Sussexes kind of already bucked tradition on this one. Archie Harrison doesn't honor any former royals — unlike how Prince William and Kate Middleton's kids' names came from the monarchy's history. But now there's even less pressure to have a family name, since Meghan and Harry are not representing Queen Elizabeth. But if they have a daughter, Diana as a name is a strong possibility. In that case, Harry would be honoring his mother, not just giving his kid a royal name.
Or a Title
It was a bit surprising when Harry declined to give Archie a title like prince or duke or His Royal Highness. But it won't be surprising at all for their new baby to not have a royal title. Harry seems determined to give his kids a "normal" upbringing without the pressure of royal status.
There Probably Won't Be an Official Newborn Photo Shoot
With Archie, Meghan and Harry declined to have the post-hospital photo shoot like the Duchess of Cambridge had with all three of her kids. But Harry and Meghan did arrange a photo op for the press a few days after the baby's birth. They're under no such obligation now. And based on how they've kept Archie out of the limelight since leaving England, we shouldn't be expecting their second child to be in the spotlight at all.
The Baby Probably Won't Wear the Royal Christening Gown
It's standard for royal children to be christened in the famous Honiton lace gown first commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1841. In 2004, Queen Elizabeth had a replica made, which is what's been used over the last few years — including for Archie's baptism. It remains to be seen if the gown will be lent to Meghan and Harry's new child. With Harry rejecting his working royal status, perhaps the Queen will revoke the privilege.
Or Maybe There Won't Be a Christening at All
Baptism in the royal family is a big deal, because the Queen is the head of the Church of England and anyone who ascends the throne must be baptized within the church. But Harry doesn't necessarily want his kids to rule, and Meghan was raised Christian only to be baptized into the Church of England prior to her wedding. Maybe the couple will buck tradition and christen their new baby in a different church or not at all.
We're Unlikely to See the Baby on the Buckingham Palace Balcony
Every year, we're guaranteed to see the royal children up on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the Trooping the Colour. But because Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals, it's unlikely they'll attend the festivities or bring their children. Unlike for their cousins, there will be no little balcony waves for the Sussex kids.
Annual Birthday Photos Won't Be a Given
Even when Kate and Will don't always bring their kids into the public spotlight, we're always guaranteed new photos of the children for their birthdays each year. But there's no reason for Meghan and Harry to provide the public with official images of their newborn, and birthday photos aren't a guarantee.
No Uniformed Nannies
Royal children typically have royal nannies who all get hired from the same place and have to wear a specific uniform (with gloves and everything!). But Harry was already not a fan of that for Archie, reportedly saying, "I don’t want a woman in a uniform around my child. This isn't Mary Poppins, we're going to have a normal household."
Perhaps with his second child, he won't have a nanny at all.
There's No Real Baby Dress Code Now
Royal babies, particularly royal boys, have a bit of a strict dress code. Most notably, they can't wear pants. They have to wear shorts and knee socks until they're older. Baby Sussex will be free to wear anything, because there's no royal fashion protocol to follow. Not that it would have stopped Meghan anyway. She was always getting called out for supposedly breaking protocol.
The Downside Will Be the Paparazzi
There are a lot of perks to having a baby outside of the confines of the monarchy. But one major downside for this second child will be the American paparazzi. British journalists are usually quite respectful of royal children. Kate Middleton and Prince William's kids are really only photographed at official events. But all bets are off in the US, as the Sussexes have already found out. With a second baby on the way, they can expect things like drone-operated cameras flying over their house on the regular.
