Sorry, Prince Andrew! Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan‘s first child will be seventh in line to the throne, bumping Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, into eighth place.
Meghan and Harry welcomed their baby boy on Monday, May 6, and announced news of their newborn on Instagram.
“We are pleased to announce that Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their firstborn child in the early morning on May 6th, 2019,” the couple wrote. “Their Royal Highnesses’ son weighs 7lbs. 3oz. The Duchess and baby are both healthy and well, and the couple thank members of the public for their shared excitement and support during this very special time in their lives. More details will be shared in the forthcoming days.”
Shortly after news broke, Harry — who is currently sixth in line of succession followed by his son — shared a heartfelt message about the arrival of the pair’s baby.
“Meghan and myself had a baby boy early this morning — a very healthy boy. Mother and baby are doing incredibly well. This has been the most amazing experience I could possibly imagine. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension,” the doting new dad said. “But we are both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everyone out there. It’s been amazing. So we just wanted to share this with everybody.”
The first in line to the throne is Prince Charles. Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, is second, followed by Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
In 2013, the U.K. Parliament passed a law called the Succession to the Crown Act, stating that succession of siblings should be determined by age, rather than gender. (That’s why Princess Charlotte, 4, didn’t lose her fourth place when Prince Louis, 12 months, was born.)
Kensington Palace announced in October 2018 that Meghan and Harry were expecting their first child. “Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May,” the palace revealed, adding that the newlyweds “are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”
Starting a family was a priority for both Harry and Meghan. During the couple’s first joint interview in November 2017, Harry gushed that they wanted to have a little one in “the near future.”
Meghan cloaked her baby bump at Princess Eugenie’s October wedding in a navy blue Givenchy dress and coat, which she wore buttoned at the top. But the retired actress didn’t fool Twitter. As one person wrote: “I stayed up just to see what Meghan is wearing and if she looks pregnant. She wore a long blue jacket that she didn’t take off in the Church. Could she be hiding something?”
