Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, gives birth to baby boy

Prince Harry married Markle at Windsor Castle last year

LONDON – The latest on the newest royal baby in Britain (all times local to London):

5 p.m.

A formal baby announcement has been posted at Buckingham Palace saying Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan's son, her eighth great-grandchild.

A pair of uniformed staff members placed the framed announcement on an easel just inside the palace gates Monday afternoon, observing a long tradition hours after the new prince's arrival was announced on social media.

The ceremonial easel carried an announcement of Prince William and Kate's third child, Prince Louis, in April 2018. It remained there for about 24 hours.

4:05 p.m.

Congratulations are flowing in from across the U.K. after Prince Harry announced that his American wife, Meghan, had given birth to a healthy baby boy.

Kind words poured in from Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, Harry's uncle, Prince Andrew, and opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, of Scotland, also sent her good wishes.

3:35 p.m.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has congratulated Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on the birth of their son.

May tweeted: "Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the arrival of their baby boy. Wishing you all the best at this happy time."

The baby was born at 5:26 a.m. and weighs 7 pounds, 3 ounces.

2:55 p.m.

A beaming Prince Harry says he and his wife, Meghan Markle, have a healthy baby boy.

Harry says he's "incredibly proud" of his wife after she gave birth early Monday morning. The baby weighs 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and palace officials say he was born at 5:26 a.m. Monday.

The infant, now the seventh in line to the British throne, has not yet been named.

The prince says he is "over the moon" about the birth of their first child and said more details will be shared in the coming days. He spoke Monday before TV cameras.

Officials say senior royals including Queen Elizabeth II have been informed of the birth, as has the family of his late mother, Princess Diana.

2:45 p.m.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are the proud parents of a new baby boy.

The baby, who has not yet been named, is seventh in line for the British throne and is Queen Elizabeth II's eighth great-grandchild.

It is the first child for Harry and Meghan, who married a year ago.  Harry spoke before cameras on Monday afternoon.

The duchess is a 37-year-old retired American actress formerly known as Meghan Markle. The 34-year-old prince is the son of Prince Charles -- next in line for the throne -- and Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

Harry has long spoken of his desire to start a family.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Prince Harry's wife Meghan went into labor early Monday with their first child, Buckingham Palace said.

Palace officials didn't immediately say where Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is giving birth. She was formerly known as Meghan Markle and was a TV star before retiring from acting to marry Harry.

Officials said the prince was by Meghan's side. No other details were released.

The couple has said they didn't find out the baby's sex in advance.

The infant will be seventh in line to the British throne and Queen Elizabeth II's eighth great-grandchild. Harry is the younger son of Prince Charles, the next in line to the throne, and the late Princess Diana, who died in a Paris car crash in 1997.

The child will be eligible for dual British-U.S. citizenship if Meghan and Harry want to go through the application process.

Harry and Meghan married at St. George's Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle a year ago this month. In April, they moved from a house on the London grounds of Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage, which is near Windsor Castle, where they held their gala, VIP-studded wedding reception.

Journalists and well-wishers have camped out for days in Windsor, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) west of London, awaiting the baby's arrival. Kensington Palace has said the new parents don't plan to pose for a photograph or appear in public with their baby for several days so they can celebrate privately.

Meghan, a California native, had a starring role on the American TV series "Suits." She had a previous marriage that ended in divorce and has strong feminist views. As the daughter of a black mother and a white father, she says she identifies as biracial.

Harry, who has said he wanted to protect his wife from intrusive media coverage, and Meghan have said they plan to keep many of the details of the birth private.

 


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