Welcome to the royal family! Queen Elizabeth II met Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry’s baby boy for the first time on Wednesday, May 8.
The new parents shared a photo from their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, meeting his great-grandmother via Instagram.
“This afternoon Their Royal Highnesses introduced Her Majesty The Queen to her eighth great-grandchild at Windsor Castle,” the statement read. “The Duke of Edinburgh and The Duchess’ mother were also present for this special occasion.”
The royal couple welcomed their first child on Monday, May 6. “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,” their Instagram account announced. “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.”
Harry gushed about his little one’s birth to the press that same day, telling reporters that both mom and baby were doing “incredibly well. This has been the most amazing experience I could possibly imagine,” he said. “How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension. 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.”
This is the first time that the monarch has welcomed a new great-grandchild this year. In April 2018, Duchess Kate and Prince William‘s second son, Prince Louis, arrived. Queen Elizabeth showed up to Kensington Palace in a helicopter at the time, carrying a bouquet of yellow flowers.
Six months later, the Duke, 34, and Duchess of Sussex, 37, confirmed that they had their own little one on the way.
“Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019,” the October 2018 Kensington Palace statement read. “Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”
Queen Elizabeth acknowledged the upcoming birth in her annual Christmas address. “It has been a busy year for my family, with two weddings and two babies, and another child expected soon,” she said, referencing Meghan and Harry’s nuptials, along with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank‘s ceremony. “It helps to keep a grandmother well occupied.”
As for the monarch and her new granddaughter-in-law, the two women have a special bond, a source told Us Weekly exclusively in March 2019.
“Meghan and the queen come from two very different backgrounds and generations,” the insider said. “But there’s a warmth between the two that is genuine in loving. Whenever they’re together, they always have a giggle.”
