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Meghan Markle might follow in the footsteps of another royal for the birth of her baby.

 

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It’s been a bit dry lately on the royal baby news front, hasn’t it?

Since The Duke and Duchess of Sussex Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they’re expecting their first child during their royal tour of Australia in October, 2018, we haven’t heard much more about the royal baby.

This leaves us with much time before the reported March/April due date to speculate as to all the details of the Duchess’ pregnancy.

Where and when? Boy or girl? Water bath birth or epidural? So many details to consider.

The most obvious question being asked after it was confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan will be moving out of London’s Kensington Palace and into Frogmore Cottage in Windsor is, where will Meghan give birth?

Remeniss on the royal tour of Australia highlights below. Post continues after video.

Video by MMC

There’s been speculation the 37-year-old won’t be welcoming her first child in the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London like her sister-in-law the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton did with all three of her children.

One option that semi fits in with Meghan’s super health and wellness conscious lifestyle is a home birth. If this were to happen, it’d likely take place at the royal couple’s new residence, Frogmore Cottage.

A second, and more likely, option would see Meghan and Harry rushing to a hospital closer to their new digs in Windsor. As pointed out by Vanity Fair and Daily Mail, Frimley Park Hospital fits the bill.

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Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey is approximately 26km from Frogmore Cottage. Getting there would involve a 25-minute contraction-filled car ride, made faster by a police escort, no doubt.

If Meghan were to give birth at Frimley Park Hospital, hers and Harry’s royal baby wouldn’t be the first to be delivered at the hospital.

Queen Elizabeth II’s second son Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex gave birth to their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, at Frimley Park. In 2003, the Countess of Wessex was rushed to Frimley Park Hospital where she prematurely gave birth to Louise – a sudden placental abruption called for an emergency caesarean section. She’s since sung the praises of the hospital and its staff.

Wherever Prince Harry and Meghan decide to welcome their baby, the fact they have the option to do it at all is thanks to Princess Diana. If not for Princess Diana insisting on having her first baby in hospital rather than at home, who knows if working royals would still be giving birth in their royal residences?

According to Katie Nicholl’s 2011 book The Making of a Royal Romance, Diana’s decision to give birth to William in a hospital, rather than Buckingham Palace, “wrote royal history”.

While childbirth in the private Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital is commonplace for the British royal family in 2018, previous to Diana it was tradition to give birth within Buckingham palace.

“Like generations of royals before him, his father Prince Charles had been delivered in the Belgian Suit at Buckingham Palace, but Diana, as the royal family quickly discovered wanted to do things differently,” she wrote.

Regardless of where the Duchess gives birth, we only hope mum and baby are healthy and happy.