Some five months ago, there was a fairytale wedding in the British Royal Family. Prince Harry of Wales, son of Charles Prince of Wales, younger brother of Prince William, and sixth in line to the British throne, wed his sweetheart of some two-years, American actress Meghan Markle. With the marriage came a new title for him and his wife as Duke and Duchess of Sussex, while Meghan became a focuse of fascination for the UK as an American of mixed-race parentage. Now the interest on this particular Royal couple has intensified with the announcement that they are expecting their first.
CNN reports that Prince Harry and Meghan will be having their first baby relatively soon, as in sometime in spring next year. The news was given Monday, October 15, by an official announcement from Kensington Palace, the official residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as well as several other royals. The expected Royal baby, once born, will become the new seventh in line to the British throne held by Queen Elizabeth II, moving Prince Andrew (younger brother of Prince Charles) down to eighth. The child will also garner attention for being a biracial in the line of succession.
While the announcement is a cause for celebration in the British Royal family, there are also some issues that come with the news. For one, the announcement had been made on International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, a special day of remembrance for lost pregnancies to miscarriage and stillbirths, as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The fact that a new life to grace the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was shared on a solemn day of commemoration was seen by some social media reactors as being rather insensitive of the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby in the spring, Kensington Palace has announced bit.ly/2CIP5GX pic.twitter.com/Zpimvc3VzA
A bit insensitive if you ask me. It's baby loss and bereavement day
One other issue of note for the pregnancy announcement, one still far off, is the timing given for when the baby will be born. Spring 2019 has been earmarked for the day when the long-awaited Brexit procedure, separating the UK from the European Union, will commence. The official date is March 29, and the Royal birth could happen just days later at the very least. Finally, there is discussion that the child born to Harry and Meghan will not carry a royal title of Prince or Princess, due to rules limiting royal titleholders laid out by King George V. Elizabeth II signed letters patent to give royal dignities to the younger siblings of Prince George, firstborn son of Prince William and Duchess Kate; so there is hope she might do it again for her latest great-grandchild with Harry and Meghan.
Speaking of the two, at the time the announcement was made by Kensington, the Duke and Duchess are in the middle of a royal tour in Australia, with a public meet and greet outside the Sydney Opera House this Tuesday.
Image courtesy of CBS News
0 comments:
Post a Comment