How Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kept mum on birth with cops smuggling them into hospital
THE arrival of baby Sussex was shrouded in astonishing levels of secrecy. Meghan and Harry were always determined to keep the birth of their first child as private as possible. And they went to extraordinary lengths to keep the details under wraps — including a secret dash to hospital and a media strategy seemingly designed […]
THE arrival of baby Sussex was shrouded in astonishing levels of secrecy.
Meghan and Harry were always determined to keep the birth of their first child as private as possible.
And they went to extraordinary lengths to keep the details under wraps — including a secret dash to hospital and a media strategy seemingly designed to cause maximum confusion to the public.
The hush-hush operation began on Sunday night when the couple and Meghan’s mum Doria, 62, were whisked to hospital without senior royals even being told.
Their Scotland Yard police protection officers managed to smuggle them into exclusive Portland hospital in central London — through heavy traffic and past hundreds of members of the public — without anyone noticing.
Meghan spent a comfortable evening in a private room before going into labour in the early hours of Monday morning.
Only a handful of staff had any clue that the Duchess was there.
Senior members of the Royal Family were also not told of the military-style operation to get Meghan to the delivery suite, where births can cost about £15,000.
Desperately trying to find out if it was true
The luxury hospital, where Victoria Beckham also gave birth, offers lobster dinners, champagne on tap and four-poster cots.
There’s also 24-hour room service, luxury Molton Brown toiletries and suites for family and visitors.
As the sun rose at 5.26am, Meghan, 37, finally gave birth to her son with her husband, 34, and mother at her bedside. Delighted Harry rang the Queen first to tell her the news.
Very senior Buckingham Palace courtiers were also made aware before the Duke rang his brother William and then Prince Charles.
By 6.30am the Royal Family and advisers were fully aware of the arrival of baby Sussex.
Tot secret timetable
Sunday night: Harry drives Meghan and mum Doria to London’s Portland Hospital
Monday 5.26am: Meghan gives birth
6.30am: Senior Royals informed
1pm: Palace aides try to alert media that Meghan has ‘gone into labout’ – with plans for Harry to announce the birth at 2.30pm – but their email does not get through
1.30pm: With journalists still in the dark, a spokesman for Harry and Meghan calls Sky News to arrange coverage of Harry’s statement
1.45pm: Sky News exclusively reports that Meghan is in labour
2.03pm: Palace desperately sends out the same press statement
2.15pm: Harry records his statement announcing the birth
2.37pm: Harry and Meghan’s Instagram account posts a picture saying ‘It’s a boy!’ At the same time, the palace issues a press release announcing the birth
2.40pm: Prince Harry’s statement is broadcast
Tuesday 12.28pm: Palace PR officials apologise for shambolic way announcement was made
Meghan’s hopes of a home birth at Windsor Castle’s Frogmore Cottage had been dashed but her son was safely delivered.
But the rest of the world was in blissful ignorance and royal fans were still waiting for news.
As far as they were concerned Meghan was still over a week past her due date and was facing the prospect of being induced.
A source said: “Meghan really wanted a home birth but the Portland was always the back-up.
“They didn’t rush to get there but the whole operation was conducted with the utmost secrecy.
“Despite announcing the birth to the world, the couple didn’t want anyone to know where the birth had actually taken place.”
WAITING GAME
By Monday lunchtime there was still no news for fans.
It seemed even The Sun’s cheeky suggestion that the nail-biting climax of the latest series of Line Of Duty would bring on the birth had not borne fruit.
Suddenly, at 1.45pm, Sky News became the first to report that Meghan was in labour.
Despite being nearly nine hours after the Duchess had safely delivered her son, it had been decided by Palace courtiers and Meghan’s advisers that a statement would be issued to say she was in the early stages of birth.
The press release indicated that a further announcement on Meghan’s condition would come soon.
Social media went into overdrive as many — unaware the baby had already been born — shared memes discussing Meghan’s labour.
By 2.15pm, Buckingham Palace officials were flatly denying the baby had been born.
But at 2.37pm — and in a royal social media first — a post on the official Sussex Instagram page announced: “It’s a boy!”
Within a few minutes a beaming Harry appeared in the grounds of Windsor Castle to tell of his joy at becoming a dad and hailing his incredible wife.
Yesterday, officials refused to say why the public had been told Meghan was in labour when she had already given birth.
But they did apologise “profusely” for a technical glitch which meant an email intended for all media outlets announcing the labour only reached Sky News.
An insider at the BBC said last night: “Like most of the country we’d been waiting on tenterhooks for days, craving an update, so tensions were high.
We’d been waiting on tenterhooks for days, craving an update
“When Sky broke the news that Meghan had gone into labour, all hell broke loose because no one else had heard anything.
“Everyone was confused and angry and desperately trying to find out if it was true.
“To make matters worse, Buckingham Palace’s press office was still outright denying that the baby had been born.
“Then half an hour later, Harry popped up on Sky News confirming that Meghan had given birth to a baby boy.
“The nation rejoiced but it was one of the most chaotic and shambolic public announcements I’ve ever witnessed.”
Yesterday, Palace aides were still refusing to reveal officially where baby Sussex was born — on the instructions of Harry and Meghan.
BREAKING FROM TRADITION
Fans were left baffled by the wish for secrecy as the tot’s birth certificate will reveal the actual location where he was born.
In a break with tradition, the Sussexes said they wanted to keep details private and pointedly failed to name or thank the medical team who helped with the birth.
Details were left off the official announcement put on an easel — as tradition dictates — on display at Buckingham Palace.
In contrast, William and Kate have always been happy to share details of the births of all three of their children.
They also faced mass photocalls at the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, hours after each child was born.
Harry and Meghan had made it clear in a previous statement made before the birth that they wanted “to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private”.
MOST READ IN UK NEWS
A Royal source at Windsor Castle said: “We had a few difficulties, which led to some inconvenience.
“It was all a bit rushed but there was nothing we could do.
“The good news is that the baby is healthy and the Duke and Duchess are over the moon.”
5-star luxury
By Jane Hamilton, who had a baby at Portland
BOASTING an array of royal and celebrity clients, London’s private Portland hospital offers mums indulgent luxury.
I enjoyed a brief glimpse into the A-list lifestyle when I had my first child there in 2006.
It looks like a normal hospital combined with a plush five-star hotel.
The rooms smell of expensive designer candles, and extravagant displays of fresh flowers abound.
I’ve lived in flats smaller than the birthing suite where babies are delivered.
The staff are as efficient and courteous as any in a top resort.
You are assigned a personal midwife from the moment you step through the gilded front doors.
After the birth, you’re offered a silver service Michelin-style celebration meal with Champagne.
The only bit that hurts more than the birth? The bill at the end!
Also born on May 6th
HUDSON was born at 7.28pm at Pembury Hospital, Kent.
Parents Tia Cooper, 19, and Damon Scott, 22, took him home yesterday.
Damon said: “Hudson is brilliant. I can’t stop looking at him. I’m sure Harry feels just as overwhelmed.”
Reggie arrived 12 days late to Ellie Phipps, 19, and partner Jake Russell, 23, at Bassetlaw District General, South Yorks.
Ellie said: “It’s lovely our baby shares a royal birthday.
“My gran thought Meghan and I would give birth on the same day.”
Urszula Olbronska, 26, gave birth to her first baby Scarlet Elizabeth Rose at the Borders General Hospital, Scottish Borders, with her mum by her side.
She said: “When my sister told me Meghan had her baby on the same day I was shocked.”
Robert arrived just after Baby Sussex at 3.42pm at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth to Emily and Patrick Turner, both 32.
Emily said: “I’m a fan of the royals, I love the Queen.
“The boys are injecting a bit of modernism and that’s needed.”
Danielle Catling and Scott Taylor welcomed Louis Henry Taylor after a 31-hour labour in Southend, Essex.
Scott, 35, said: “Like Harry, I take my hat off to women.
“Danielle was incredible during every single one of those 31 hours.”
Alfie David Tomlinson arrived eight hours after the royal baby.
Parents Amy Brown, 23, and Andrew Tomlinson, 25, were given a special teddy to celebrate.
Amy, from Sunderland, said: “Only 1,000 were made. It’s a lovely thing for his memory box.”
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