Meghan’s busy pregnancy in the months leading up to the birth
The duchess is still in her first year as part of the Windsor family.
The Duchess of Sussex had a busy pregnancy in what was her first year as a member of the royal family.
American actress Meghan, 37, fell pregnant around two months after marrying the Duke of Sussex in a historic royal wedding in Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel.
The duchess appears to have had a healthy, straightforward pregnancy.
Whereas the Duchess of Cambridge suffered from severe morning sickness with all three of her children, Meghan was out and about in the early days.
The busy 16-day trip to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga featured some 76 engagements.
But she did pull out of an arranged meeting with Invictus Games competitors after a late night at the opening ceremony in Sydney on October 21 when the event overran by two hours.
Harry urged his wife to pace herself during the marathon trip and the mother-to-be opted to rest.
A royal source said at the time that she was “not sick, just tired” and was keen to take part in everything.
They added: “We have to try to pace her. We have to make sure she is well paced and not overdoing it.
“She wants to do everything, but Prince Harry is encouraging her to pace herself.”
Precautions were taken in Tonga because of the Zika virus, which can be contracted through mosquito bites.
On a visit to the Royal Variety care home in Twickenham on December 18 to meet retired actors, directors and entertainers, Meghan revealed she was “feeling very pregnant”.
And in the Queen’s Christmas message, the monarch said of the baby that it was “expected soon”.
Harry, who dubbed the baby “our little bump”, and Meghan are set to raise their child in Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate, a decision which prompted rumours of a rift between Meghan and Kate.
Kate told members of the public at Leicester University that she was looking forward to Harry and Meghan’s baby, saying: “It’s such a special time to have more kiddies”, and added that it would be lovely for her children to have a new cousin.
Meghan has been physically fit during her pregnancy, but there has been emotional heartache.
Her estranged father Thomas Markle, who missed his daughter’s wedding after ill health and being caught staging paparazzi photographs, gave interviews saying he was being “shunned” by Meghan, and that she had not spoken to him for months and was not replying to his daily text messages.
Unnamed close friends of Meghan eventually challenged the reports, telling the US magazine People: “He’s never called; he’s never texted. It’s super-painful.”
Five of her confidantes also spoke out in an effort to counter the “global bullying” directed at her.
Mr Markle denied the claims and went on to release a deeply personal letter his daughter wrote to him following her wedding.
With it growing increasingly unlikely the royal infant will meet his or her maternal grandfather, the baby boy or girl has already been embraced by one west London community as part of their family.
Cooks at a Hubb Community Kitchen, which Meghan visited as part of her support of the Grenfell cookbook, lovingly told the duchess her baby would be considered their “grandchild”.
In January, Meghan became patron of the National Theatre, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, animal welfare organisation Mayhew and Smart Works which provides high-quality interview clothes and training for unemployed women in need.
On a visit to Smart Works in north Kensington, London, she championed the power of women supporting each other, adding: “It’s not just about donating your clothes and seeing where they land – but really being part of each other’s success stories as women.”
The duchess became known for cradling her bump frequently during public appearances.
There were outings to Meghan’s other new patronages, with the duchess cuddling Minnie the dog at Mayhew, and visiting the National Theatre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.
Harry joked “There’s a heavy baby in there” at a reception for the Endeavour Fund Awards when Meghan was seven months pregnant.
Celebrations ahead of the birth included a solo trip to New York City where the American former actress caught up with friends including stylist Jessica Mulroney, and attended an exclusive baby shower, with the private jet journey and penthouse suite, reportedly funded by friends, said to have cost some £300,000.
The heavily pregnant royal also carried out an official overseas tour in her third trimester, when she and Harry travelled to Morocco at the request of the British Government.
In early March, the duchess joined the Queen and other royals at a special reception in Buckingham Palace to mark 50 years since the Prince of Wales was invested with his title.
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 8, 2019
On Commonwealth Day on March 11, Meghan and Harry met young Canadians at Canada House, and were given a baby bodysuit and pair of tiny moccasins.
But the duchess carried out an additional engagement in the wake of the Christchurch mosque terror attacks in New Zealand, when she signed a book of condolence in London with Harry on March 19.
The couple set up their own Instagram account @SussexRoyal, part of splitting their household from William and Kate’s, on April 2, posting a message saying it would be used to share “important announcements”.
Then on April 4 came the news that Harry and Meghan had finally moved in to their new home in Windsor, Frogmore Cottage, after building work was completed ahead of the arrival of their baby.