Queen ‘delighted’ as Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announce baby news

The Queen already has nine great-grandchildren!

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 11, 2019 in London, England
(Image credit: Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty)

The Queen is reportedly “delighted” to hear the news that her grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are expecting their second baby. 

The Queen is already a proud great-grandmother to nine royal children, including the latest arrival to the family - Princess Eugenie’s son who was born just last week. Her granddaughter Zara Tindall is currently pregnant with her third child, a sibling for daughters Mia and Lena, due later this year. And now it seems like the good news is keeping on coming for the Royal Family as yesterday, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan announced the exciting news that they are expecting their second child.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wonderful news could be seen as all the more poignant given the timing of their announcement. The couple shared their pregnancy with the world on Valentine’s Day, 37 years to the day that the late Princess Diana announced her pregnancy with Prince Harry.

And in the light of this happy family news, it’s been claimed that not only is the Queen “delighted”, but that the Sussexes informed their families before making the announcement. 

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How has the Queen responded to Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s baby news?

Having only recently welcomed her ninth-great-grandchild to the family, the Queen is understood to be thrilled to hear this latest joyous news. According to BAZAAR.com, a Buckingham Palace statement stated that: "Her Majesty, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and entire family [are] 'delighted' and wish them well."

Whilst a source reportedly revealed to BAZAAR.com that “the Sussexes told both of their families about Meghan's pregnancy before making their announcement.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now settled in California after stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family last year. Given the ongoing effects of the pandemic and the travel restrictions in place, this has meant it’s been some time since they and their son Archie have seen Prince Harry’s family in person.

However, it’s recently been suggested that the Queen has a “very special” relationship with Archie and that he “loves” being on Zoom calls with the family. With the Queen’s 95th and Prince Philip’s 100th birthday celebrations coming in June, some royal fans may have hoped to see the Sussexes reunited with the Royal Family.

Whilst this may not be possible, it perhaps seems likely that the Queen will be keen to catch up with the couple regularly as Duchess Meghan’s pregnancy progresses.

We can’t wait to see her meet her eleventh great-grandchild in the future!

Emma Shacklock

Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!