Meghan Markle is not your normal royal.
With a new age of royals comes a new way of doing things. She’s been making waves since her engagement to Prince Harry was announced — after all, she’s American, and used to be an actress.
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Now, she’s shaking things up once more: unlike Kate, she’s not following previously established royal traditions for the birth of she and Harry’s first child.
The press is obsessed with the way she’s handled her pregnancy
From how she dresses to how she holds her belly, Meghan has been under close scrutiny by the press.
It seems everyone has an opinion on how she handles her own pregnancy.
So it’s no surprise that she chose not to include them in the actual birth
The first sign that this birth would be unlike any before it came when Prince Harry and Duchess Markle announced that they would not be releasing Meghan’s birthing plan.
After the hounding she’s had from the press? I do not blame her.
So, what’s different from the usual tradition?
Guys, almost everything.
Certain standards were implemented by the Queen, and some by Princess Diana.
All of them basically served to turn the birth of any royal baby into a press opportunity for the royal family.
None of that is happening this time.
The baby will be delivered privately
Unlike William and Kate, who had spectacles surrounding the birth of their three children, Meghan and Harry are keeping the birth of their child low-key.
So, don’t expect crowds, cheering, and photo-ops. That’s not in the cards this time.
There won’t be any photo ops outside the hospital
Mere hours after giving birth, Kate would pose outside of the hospital with William.
This was the first glimpse the public (and media) would have of the new baby.
Meghan will not be doing this. And thank goodness, because giving birth is enough of a struggle without having to pose for pictures shortly afterward.
There also won’t be any in-hospital makeovers
Since Kate would pose outside with the new baby, she always had her makeup artist and hair stylist on hand to doll her up after the delivery.
Again, Meghan is skipping this.
In fact, no details of the birth will be made available
William and Kate would have an entire birthing plan drawn up and given to the media months before the actual delivery.
Those details would include if William would be present, when cameras would be welcome, and where Kate would give birth.
And speaking of the hospital…
Rumor has it that Meghan may not deliver in a hospital at all.
Unlike many royals before her, the Duchess may be considering opting for a home birth, instead of making the trek to a hospital.
This rumor is further supported by delivery details
In fact, even if she does deliver at home, it looks like Meghan may choose to buck tradition again.
Rather than use the Queen’s team of doctors, she is reportedly considering using her own team of doctors, which will include a female leading it.
The Queen has only male gynecologists.
However, the royal doctors cannot be completely excluded
See, royal protocol dictates that the Queen’s team still be present.
Should anything go awry during the delivery, the Queen’s doctors will step in and take over.
They were present at the births of all of Kate’s children.
Even if she does deliver at a hospital, it won’t be the usual one
Princess Diana had both William and Harry at St Mary’s Hospital. Kate followed in her footsteps with the birth of she and William’s children, as well.
However, now that Harry and Meghan have moved to Frogmore Cottage, it’s just not practical to deliver the baby that far from home.
It looks like Frimley Park Hospital might be in the running.
We might not know when she’s in labor
One thing that seems unclear is whether or not social media will play a role in the birth.
The official twitter account of the palace previously announced when Kate was in labor.
Since Meghan and Harry want privacy, it’s possible that won’t happen.
A photo op will happen — just not right away
Since the traditional photo outside of the hospital is obviously out, the couple will obviously share pictures of their new baby much later.
Perhaps they’ll use their new Instagram account to introduce the new royal to the world?
Some sources say a photo op could happen at Windsor Castle
People reported that the couple will introduce their new baby via a specially arranged photo op on the grounds of Windsor Castle.
Take that one with a grain of salt, though, because there’s no official source for that info!
Whatever ends up happening, it’s going to be a change
After all, it’s not our baby — it’s Meghan and Harry’s!
Their baby, their family, their choices.
Perhaps Meghan shaking things up will allow future royals more flexibility with how they have their children.
