Prince Harry reveals he used laughing gas during birth of son

In his book, the Duke of Sussex described the day Archie was born at a London hospital in 2019

Maanya Sachdeva
Sunday 08 January 2023 11:11 GMT
Comments
Prince Harry and Meghan reveal Archie's favourite words

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Prince Harry has reportedly written he used laughing gas and ate Nando’s chicken to “enhance my calm” during the birth of his son in 2019.

In his leaked memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex described the scene at London’s Portland Hospital on the day his and Meghan Markle’s firstborn Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor came into the world.

He reportedly recalled how Meghan was “bouncing on a giant purple ball” when she went into labour while Harry placed a photograph of his late mother, the former Princess of Wales Diana, in the delivery room.

According to MailOnline, which said it had obtained a copy of the book, Harry wrote: “Meg was so calm, I was calm too.

“But I saw two ways of enhancing my calm. One: Nando’s chicken (brought by our bodyguards). Two: A canister of laughing gas beside Meg’s bed. I took several slow, penetrating hits.”

He also reportedly revealed how when the nurse came to give the duchess laughing gas, or nitrous oxide, for the pain, there wasn’t any left.

“I could see the thought slowly dawning. ‘Gracious, the husband’s had it all,’” he continued. “’Sorry,’ I said meekly.”

The duke also reportedly quipped that he “didn’t touch the laughing gas” during the birth of his daughter Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor in 2021 “because there was none”.

Prince Harry’s book was leaked after it was accidentally put on sale in Spain five days before its official release date on 10 January.

It reportedly covers a wide range of subjects from his relationship with William to his struggles coping with the death of Diana in 1997.

You can follow live updates about Harry’s book here.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in