Royal baby news: Official Instagram account pays tribute to mums on Mother's Day
Buckingham Palace revealed that the Duchess of Sussex gave birth in the early hours of Monday morning
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Your support makes all the difference.In the early hours of Monday 6 May, the Duchess of Sussex gave birth to a baby boy, with Prince Harry by her side.
A statement was released on the royal couple’s official Instagram account, revealing that the baby was born before 6am and weighs 7lbs. 3oz.
The first pictures of the couple with their newborn were revealed on Wednesday. The newborn was seen swaddled in a white blanket wearing a white hat.
The couple later announced on Instagram that they had named their son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
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Earlier in the week, Prince William joked that he had "no idea" when his sister-in-law would be giving birth.
While visiting New Zealand, the Duke of Cambridge responded to a question about the status of the royal baby with: "I haven't got my phone on me! I have no idea! You guys will find out before I do at this rate."
Prince William joked he has no idea when the royal baby will arrive (Getty)
Bookmakers Paddy Power have suspended all bets on the day of birth for baby Sussex on the basis that the child has already been born.
According to the bookmakers, a spike in betting forced them to "stop taking bets".
Royal correspondent Chris Ship has questioned the tactic on Twitter, writing: "Unless Paddy Power is inside Frogmore Cottage right now, I've no idea how they make these decisions on bets..."
Although the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they will be keeping the birth of their first child private, the palace is expected to inform the public when the duchess has gone into labour.
Royal correspondent Rebecca English reiterated this on Twitter on Thursday, and said the confusion around the secrecy of the birthing plan may have been the result of the "slightly badly-worded press release".
The Duchess of Sussex has previously said that she hopes her baby will be a feminist.
During a panel discussion in honour of International Women’s Day on 8 March, Meghan referenced Johanna Demetraka’s 2018 documentary Feminists - What Were They Thinking? while discussing her “little bump”.
“I’d seen this documentary on Netflix on feminism and one of the things they said during pregnancy was ‘I feel the embryonic kicking of feminism,’” the duchess said. “I love that. So boy or girl or whatever it is, we hope that that’s the case, our little bump.”
With speculation surrounding the new royal baby's name at an all time high, it is interesting to look at the names of other young royals in the family.
Prince Louis, who recently celebrated his first birthday on 23 April, has a historically significant name, as does his brother Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte.
When the new baby arrives, it will be seventh in line to the throne.
The newest royal will take its place behind its father Prince Harry, and its three cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The baby’s sex will not dictate its place in the line of succession, according to a change in law announced in March 2015.
The updated law ensures that royal babies born after 28 October 2011 maintain their position in the line of succession, regardless of sex.
Bookies have revealed that the odds have been slashed on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex having a baby boy.
The odds are down from 11/10 to evens today, while a girl is still the favourite at 8/11.
The Duchess of Sussex previously revealed the children's book she can't wait to share with her baby.
While answering rapid fire questions for a 2016 interview, Meghan Markle gave The Giving Tree as her answer, a children's picture book written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein.
First published in 1964, the book documents the relationship between a young boy and a tree.
The Duchess of Sussex should stay as active as possible as she waits to go into labour, a birthing expert has said.
Amy Delicate, a National Childbirth Trust (NCT) antenatal teacher, said: "Rather than bringing on the birth, it's about passing the time as gently as possible and letting the birth happen in its own timeframe."
"Some mothers tell the NCT at this time, they want things to happen quickly, they're uncomfy, they're impatient.
"But some people feel they need more time to get ready."
With the royal baby due to arrive any day now, bookmakers William Hill has stated that those who chose to bet on the month of May are likely to see a return.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams added that the bookmaker had yet to settle April bets on the "unlikely" chance the baby had already been born in secret.
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