Palace gives royal baby update: Has Meghan Markle given birth?
No royal baby just yet!
Buckingham Palace released an unexpected statement to CBS News around 5 a.m. EST on Thursday morning revealing that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal baby "hasn't been born yet," despite what several rumors circulating online had claimed.
The update comes one day after the palace announced that Harry will travel to the Netherlands next week, on Wednesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 9. Many royal watchers took the announcement with the implication that the royal family expects Baby Sussex to be born by the time he goes on his trip.
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Through comments that Meghan made during an official royal engagement back in January, it's become public knowledge that the Duchess of Sussex's due date was sometime in late April or early May -- and sources said about two weeks ago that she is due to give birth "any day" now.
Speculation around whether or not Meghan has secretly already given birth was fueled by her joint announcement with her husband earlier this spring that they won't be debuting their baby to the public hours after Meghan gives birth, which is what Kate Middleton and Prince William have done with all three of their children on the steps of the Lindo Wing.
"The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby," the palace said in a statement. "Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. The duke and duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family."
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Meghan and Harry are expected to announce the arrival of their baby after posing for photos at Windsor Castle when they feel they are appropriately ready to do so.
Page Six reported earlier this week that Meghan "feels sorry" that Kate had to get camera-ready so close to giving birth to her children, and she didn't want to put that pressure on herself to do the same.
