Meghan Markle Keeping Baby's Birth Private Is 'Understandable': 'Lindo Wing Has Become a Circus'
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry may be moving away from modern royal baby traditions, but it’s for a relatable reason.
The royal couple recently announced details surrounding the birth of their first child, revealing that they “have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private.”
“The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family,” according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace.
This means they’ll be breaking the tradition followed by Princess Diana and Kate Middleton, who both introduced their children to the world shortly after giving births by stepping outside the private Lindo Wing at St. Mary’s Hospital in London for a photo call.
“It is completely understandable,” royal author Ingrid Seward tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue. “The Lindo Wing has become too much of a circus.”
The tradition of giving birth at St. Mary’s Hospital – and the public getting their first glimpse at the new royal family members – began in 1977, when Princess Anne welcomed her son, Peter Phillips. She opted to go to the same hospital to give birth to her daughter, Zara, in 1981.
Princess Diana continued the trend the following year, welcoming Prince William and introducing him to the world on the steps outside to much public fanfare. She also gave birth to Prince Harry there.
All three of Prince William and Princess Kate’s children were born in the same place as their dad – and Prince George, 5, Princess Charlotte, 3, and Prince Louis, who turns 1 this month, gave their first royal waves on the steps for a crowd of well-wishers and photographers.
Instead, they announced that Meghan and Harry will take part in a photo op with their new son or daughter on the grounds of Windsor Castle in the days following the birth.
While they may be stepping away from the modern tradition, the parents-to-be might follow an older way of doing things: a home birth at Windsor Castle’s Frogmore Cottage, where they recently moved.
Queen Elizabeth was born at the London home of her maternal grandparents and welcomed all four of her children at home as well. Her three sons – Prince Charles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward – made their entrance to the world in grand fashion – at Buckingham Palace! The monarch’s daughter, Princess Anne, was born at Clarence House, where she and Prince Philip lived while Buckingham Palace was undergoing renovations following damage it suffered during World War II.
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“People are delighted that Meghan is doing things differently,” says Seward. “She was under no pressure to do things the same.”
