The royal baby is finally here! As news emerges that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have welcomed a baby boy, here are the reasons we know the couple will be incredible parents.
1 of 12
Meghan Markle had already started collecting keepsakes for her family when she did an interview with Hello! back in September 2015.
She shared, "I've always coveted the Cartier French Tank Watch. When I found out 'Suits' had been picked up for our third season – which, at the time, felt like such a milestone – I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version... I had it engraved on the back, 'To M.M. from M.M.' And I plan to give it to my daughter one day. That’s what makes pieces special, the connection you have to them."
2 of 12
Just days after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they are expecting their first child, they embarked on their first big Royal Tour as a married couple.
On Tuesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were presented with native flowers from children, Dasha Gallagher and Finley Blue, during a ceremony at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.
3 of 12
Royal expert Katie Nicholl told ET Canada the couple are already discussing having children. "My sources are saying that Prince Harry, particularly, is very keen to start a family, pretty soon after the royal wedding. He's made no secret about wanting children."
4 of 12
Unlike many royals who elect to hold clutches in order to avoid shaking hands, royal bride-to-be Meghan Markle regularly hugs kids that she meets.
5 of 12
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail, Prince Harry explained that “The reason I am now fifth [in line for the throne] is because of my nephew and niece and I could never wish them away. They are the most amazing things ever.”
6 of 12
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak with the public, Meghan regularly crouches to talk with the kids. She genuinely enjoys being around children and appears to be an incredible listener - truly a sign of a great mother.
7 of 12
Prince Harry has plenty of experience with children, he is actually the Godfather to a lot of his friends’ offspring. “I’m Godfather to quite a few of my friends’ kids,” the Prince explained on a Mad World podcast for The Telegraph. “I think the key to [being a good Godparent] is to grow up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side. If that means going to someone’s house and sitting there and playing PlayStation and kicking the a** of their son... or whatever it is, then I’ll try and do that. I’ve actually had a lot of practice for that.”
8 of 12
Anyone who knows Meghan well will tell you what a kind person she is. In an article she wrote for Elle, she discussed her experience as an advocate for UN Women and her time spent at Gihembe refugee camp in Rwanda. She turned down her dream of attending the BAFTAs to stay and help longer. “I received an email from my managers asking whether I'd attend the BAFTAs. I had never been and had always romanticised it. A high-end jewelry company was going to fly me in, dress me in the fanciest of gowns, and I would travel straight from Kigali to Heathrow, London, to the makeup chair and onto the red carpet... 'No,' my heart said. And it wasn't a soft whisper; it was a lion's roar.”
9 of 12
An important parental quality is having a strong belief in equality and projecting that value onto your children. From childhood, Meghan has been a feminist. In an article she wrote for Elle, she said “[I was] sitting in a school classroom when I was 11-years-old, a dish-washing liquid commercial came on a TV with the tagline, 'Women all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.' The boys yelled out, 'Yeah, that's where women belong. In the kitchen.' My little freckled face became red with anger. I went home and wrote letters to feminist civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred, plus a kids' news programme host, and Hillary Clinton (our First Lady at the time). They all pledged support. A few months later, the commercial was changed to 'People all over America are fighting greasy pots and pans.'”
10 of 12
According to an article in the Telegraph, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were greeting admirers, “Ms Markle was complimented by Jessica Phillips, 23, for her outspoken views on equality. Ms Phillips said: ‘She was so lovely. I said it was really lovely to have a feminist in the Royal Family.’ Gesturing to her fiancee, the former actress told her: ‘He's a feminist too.’”
11 of 12
In the article she wrote for Elle, Meghan explained that “my parents came from little so they made a choice to give a lot: buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to people in hospices, giving spare change to those asking for it. It's what I grew up seeing, so it's what I grew up being: a young adult with a social consciousness to do what I could and speak up when I knew something was wrong.” The bride-to-be strives to live her life following these values and will be sure to teach her children the same.
12 of 12
Meghan Markle is very close to her mother and Prince Harry is extremely close with his family. In an interview with BBC News, Meghan revealed that “The [royal] family has been great and over the past year and half, we’ve just had a really nice time getting to know them and progressively helping me feel a part of not just the institution but also part of the family, which has been really, really special.” When discussing meeting Queen Elizabeth II for the first time, Meghan explained how incredible it was “to be able to meet her through [Prince Harry’s] lens, not just with his honour and respect for her as the Monarch, but the love that he has for her as his grandmother.” It is without a doubt that their children will be born into a close, loving family.