Sussexes to keep baby away from the cameras
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex yesterday signalled they would break with recent royal tradition by not holding a photocall outside hospital with their newborn baby. The couple are hoping for a home birth, unlike the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who faced the media outside hospital with each of their three children. The Sussex baby, who will be seventh in line to the throne but not automatically have the title of Prince or Princess, will only be photographed after a period of time.
IT HAS become a beloved tradition – the presentation of a royal newborn to the public by its proud parents as they emerge from hospital to a media scrum.
But the scenes of joy outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in west London will not be repeated with the forthcoming addition to the Royal family, as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex swap public celebrations for total privacy.
The Duke and Duchess, whose first child will be an Earl or Lady rather than Prince or Princess, said they would be “celebrating privately as a new family” after the birth.
They said they would not be sharing plans for the arrival, and will not make a public appearance after the birth.
Instead, they will arrange for photographs after mother and child have had time to recover and bond.
The low-key plans in part reflect the status of Baby Sussex, who will be seventh in line to the throne.
He or she will not have an automatic HRH title, being known as the Earl of Dumbarton if a boy, and Lady [first name] Mountbatten-windsor if a girl.
George, Charlotte and Louis, the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the new baby’s cousins, were all confirmed as being a Prince or Princess before birth thanks to a Letters Patent issued by the Queen in December 2012, seven months before the arrival of Prince George.
No such declaration has yet been made with respect to the Sussex baby.
The choice of a private birth plan also sees the Sussexes choose a different path to that of the Cambridges, who confirmed each of their children would be born at the Lindo Wing and invited members of the public and media to wait in a carefully controlled area outside to see them.
The Princess Royal and Diana, Princess of Wales, stepped out of the Lindo cradling their babies, and Sarah, Duchess of York, posed outside the Portland. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are following in the footsteps of the Queen with hopes for a home birth. The baby is due at the end of this month or early next month, according to the Duchess. Royal-watchers, however, will be on alert from next week, with the parents-to-be having no public engagements in their diaries.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “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.”
The palace are expected to issue a short written announcement confirming the Duchess is in labour, with a second to follow upon the safe arrival of the baby, giving details of its sex, weight and time of birth.
Joe Little, the managing editor of Majesty magazine, said: “I think there may be an element of disappointment on the part of the most zealous of royal watchers.
“But like all matters royal, these things evolve and this is how the Sussexes have chosen to do it.”