Royal-Baby Alert: Meghan Markle’s Mother, Doria Ragland, Is Reportedly in London

Royal-baby watchers, rejoice! Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, is said to have arrived in London.

Multiple outlets report that Ragland made the transatlantic journey this weekend.

It was a long-awaited arrival: Outlets have been saying for quite some time that Ragland, who enjoys a close relationship with her daughter, would lend a hand to the young couple after they welcome their first child. “Doria should be here for the birth and will be staying,” the Mirror reported earlier this month. “But then she has to get back to her dogs and work.” In fact, Ragland-watch was so intense that the Daily Mail even ran an article this weekend announcing Ragland had hired a house sitter in Los Angeles.

Why so much anticipation? Well, Ragland coming to London is a sure indicator that the arrival of Baby Sussex is imminent. The duchess told fans her due date is in late April, early May—i.e. sometime in the next two weeks. And Ragland’s presence may mean that the public could get an announcement sooner rather than later.

That said, the announcement will look different than that of royal births past. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced earlier in the month that they were keeping the arrival of their first child 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,” they said.

So how, and when, will we know the royal baby is here? It’s been reported that, like Prince William and Kate Middleton, the palace will alert the public when the duchess is in labor and when the child has been born. However, there will be no post-hospital photo-call (if the duchess goes to a hospital at all—she is said to be considering a home birth at Frogmore Cottage). A photo will instead be released at a later date.

And so the world waits.