Before all eyes were on Meghan Markle and Prince Harry during their first appearance as new parents [1], it was Meghan's pregnancy that garnered all the attention. When was she due? Where would she deliver? What would she wear?
The excitement and speculation over the pair's journey to welcoming their first child felt heightened, probably because it wasn't a given that they'd follow royal tradition to a T. In fact, it was expected by many that they wouldn't, having already surprised royal fans and followers with decisions about their wedding [2] and their choice to move out of Kensington Palace [3]. Plus, Meghan started breaking protocol [4] before she even officially became a member of the royal family. But just how different was Meghan's pregnancy from other high-profile royals?
She Cradled Her Bump — and Didn't Care What Anyone Thought
Meghan received criticism for cradling her baby bump [5] so frequently, and perhaps part of the reason is that the gesture isn't commonly made by members of the royal family.
Kate Middleton very rarely touched her baby bump during each of her three pregnancies, and Princess Diana also avoided calling attention to her growing belly. It was refreshing to see Meghan so proudly holding her stomach [6] — and it made for some great photographs.
She Worked With a Doula
While the details of Meghan's birth plan were kept private, it was reported that Meghan had been working with a doula [7] as she prepared to welcome her first child. She was also apparently hoping for a home birth [8] (which actually used to be the norm for royal babies!).
Meghan's interest in alternative birth plans was certainly a variation on how royal moms have given birth in the past 40 years, though she did end up delivering at a London hospital, as Princess Diana, the Duchess of York, and Kate Middleton did.
She Shared Information on Her Own Timeline
As questions about the impending arrival of Baby Sussex mounted, Harry and Meghan finally released a statement [9] about their plans. In April, a press release explained, "Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family."
This was a departure from what royal fans had to come to expect after Kate gave birth to her three children — nearly real-time labor and birth updates and a subsequent hospital photocall.
She Highlighted Her Baby Bump
Meghan didn't ditch her signature chic style just because she became pregnant, and she didn't shy away from showing off her growing bump, either. In a departure from past royal maternity fashion [10], Meghan chose a number of fitted ensembles [11] to dress her changing body.
She accentuated her smaller bump in the early months with styles that cinched at the waist, and as she got closer to month nine, chose looks that hugged her stomach. For fashion-lovers, it was a thrill to see Meghan's maternity style go beyond the expected.
She Celebrated With a Baby Shower
In February, Meghan travelled to NYC for a lavish baby shower [12] thrown by friends including Serena Williams and Amal Clooney. Since showers aren't the norm in the UK (especially not for royals), the event came as a shock to many. But for fans in America — where baby showers [13] are a thing — it was another show of Meghan's unique ability to bridge her two worlds.
She Didn't Hide Her Postpartum Figure
White dress and heels aside, Meghan proudly rocking her postpartum bump [14] made her first appearance as a mom pretty relatable. Choosing a dress that tied at the waist served to further highlight the realities of a women's postpartum body, which wasn't always the case with royal moms — Princess Diana wore flowing tent dresses [15] after she welcomed Princes William and Harry.
And now that Meghan's given birth, we can't wait to see how she continues to forge her own path as a mom among the royal family.