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Royal baby: What are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's birthing plans

Meghan is likely to insist on a dual citizenship for the baby

[File] Britain's Prince Harry poses with Meghan Markle in the Sunken Garden of Kensington Palace | Reuters

The child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is due very soon. Meghan Markle, an American, became the Duchess when she wed Prince Harry a year ago. The royal family is not totally unused to that kind of thing. Children have been born with Greek or German mothers in the past, but Meghan is the first American mother so close in the royal family, royal commentator Hugo Vickers said. However, it is highly likely that Meghan might insist on a dual citizenship for the baby. 

Meghan has not been following royal protocol when it comes to preparing for childbirth. She also had a baby shower with some of her close friends in New York. Harry and Meghan have chosen to keep the details about their baby planning private, but in fact, rumours are rife that the Duchess may even hire a doula to help her with the birthing of the baby. Other rumours going around are that the couple are considering to hire a manny (male nanny) for the baby and that they may raise the child as a gender fluid individual.  

Details as to where Meghan will give birth have not been shared with the media, probably to avoid a 24/7 stakeout outside the hospital like in the case of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, where all the royal babies—George, Charlotte and Louis— were introduced to the media and public waiting outside hours within their birth. Also, according to sources close to the Duchess, Meghan is expected to take to the American approach when it comes to maternity leave. Though she will be on maternity leave for three months, as is the case with most working American mothers, she plans to return to public life in six weeks. Prince Harry, too, apparently is keen to take two weeks paternity leave.

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