How Meghan Markle Has Broken With Tradition For The New Royal Baby

Meghan and Harry most notably broke with tradition by demanding more privacy from the press for the birth. On April 11th, Buckingham Palace released a statement stating that:

As such, it was known nearly a month before the birth that the couple would not, as modern tradition dictates, pose on the Lindo Wing steps after the birth. This photo call has been the tradition since the beginning of the 1980s with Prince William and Zara Tindall’s births.

Instead, Meghan’s labor was simply announced in the afternoon of May 6th. Harry surprisingly gave an interview reporting the birth of a baby boy about an hour later. As it happens, the new baby boy had been born in the early hours of the morning at 5.26am weighing 7lbs 3oz. The birth was so secretive that where their baby boy was born has not yet been confirmed, although there are rumors that Meghan was taken to The Portland Hospital in London late on Sunday evening.

The couple and their new arrival attended their first photo call two days after the announcement in Windsor Castle before the trio visited the Queen. Here, the pair did maintain a long-standing tradition of the royals as their son was wrapped in a cashmere hat and ivory blanket from G.H Hurt & Sons. This is a brand that has been a go-to for royal babies for generations, with the Queen proudly introducing Prince Charles in a shawl from the brand 70 years ago. Meghan appeared overjoyed at the arrival of her baby boy claiming that he:

Whilst Kate and Wills used Twitter to simultaneously announce the birth of their three children alongside the traditional written announcement displayed at Buckingham Palace, Meghan and Harry utilized Instagram as well. It was rumored that this was how we would all find out about the birth when the pair launched their @sussexroyal page just five weeks ago. At this point, it was well documented that Meghan’s due date was looming and so, it seemed likely that this was the very modern form that the couple had chosen to break the news. The “It’s a Boy!” post that was uploaded has now been liked more than 2.7m times – making it the most-liked post of any royal account, according to Hello magazine.

It is hardly surprising that Meghan’s pregnancy has highlighted that the couple has, according to royal historian Sarah Gristwood, a “very strong desire to do things their way.” This decision has been clear from the outset in a multitude of ways. Harry, after all, has often made the headlines over the years for being the more rebellious prince. With Meghan though he has repeatedly challenged protocol. In 2016, for instance, he acted in an unprecedented fashion at the beginning of the pair’s relationship by condemning the media for subjecting Meghan to a “wave of abuse and harassment”. He also asked the Queen to make an exception for Meghan and she became the first ever royal fiancée to spend Christmas with the royal family. Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile was refused in 2012.

Meghan herself is an example of how the royal family’s traditions are slowly softening with time. As a divorced, American actress with a mutliracial heritage, she embodies a modern royal family. After all, it is less than a century since Prince Edward abdicated following his declaration of devotion for Wallis Simpson or, “the original divorcée duchess” as Tatler referred to her. More importantly however is that the couple’s bundle of joy is, according to The Telegraph:

Meghan and Harry really have dictated their own path it seems from the very beginning. However, one tradition that she is sure to uphold is the baby’s christening into the Church of England. Before their wedding, Meghan was herself baptized into the faith out of respect for the Queen. Plus, this is crucial as the royal baby cannot be heir to the throne if they are not baptized into the church. The rest? We will only have to wait and see how the trio grows together as a family – experience would suggest that they will form their own path whichever way that may take.