Harry and Meghan reveal royal baby name after public debut
Baby Sussex (in Prince Harry's arms at Windsor Castle on May 8) is "calm", said mother Meghan Markle. Photo: Getty
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle raised more than a few eyebrows when they revealed their newborn son is named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, shortly after showing him off to the world.
The Sussexes announced the name on their Instagram account, with a black-and-white photo of Meghan showing the baby to his great-grandparents Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Also featured in the image was Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, who was reportedly part of her birthing support team.
Among the many possible names tipped for the newest royal baby, Archie was not one of them.
Before the announcement, bookies’ favourites for Baby Sussex were Spencer, Alexander, James, Philip, Arthur and Albert.
The name Archie has grown in usage in recent years, rocketing from England’s 192nd most popular boy’s name In 2016 to 18th in 2017.
In another surprise, the baby will not be known simply as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
Kensington Palace confirmed the young royal will not be styled Earl of Dumbarton, a title bestowed on Harry by the Queen when he got married.
A spokesman for Buckingham Palace said the Duke and Duchess “have chosen not to give him a courtesy title at this time”.
The announcement of Archie’s name came several hours after a beaming Meghan and Harry fronted the world’s media to introduce their son for the first time.
He’s “just been a dream”, a proud Meghan beamed.
“It’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy,” she said during the Sussexes’ first family photo call on at St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
Harry, 34, cradled his sleeping two-day-old boy as the Sussexes stood and chatted about parenthood in the same place they held their wedding reception last May.
Meghan, 37, wore a sleeveless trench-style belted dress by London menswear designer Grace Wales Bonner and nude Manolo Blahnik heels.
She looped one arm around her husband and gently rubbed her son’s head with her other pale pink-manicured hand.
“It’s been a special couple of days,” the new mother said, her eyes continually drawn to her firstborn.
Apart from a tiny nose, his face couldn’t be seen clearly.
The baby slept through the photo call. Photo: Getty
Archie wore a white knit beanie and was wrapped in a hand-made $194 shawl from G.H.Hurt & Son, the Nottingham company that has swaddled every royal baby for the past 70 years.
Being a first time mother is “magic”, the former Suits actor said.
She added that in his first two days on the planet, Archie has slept well: “He has the sweetest temperament. He’s really calm.”
Harry made perhaps his first dad joke: “I don’t know where he gets that from!”
He followed up his comedic routine when the couple said they haven’t figured out yet who their boy looks like, although “he’s already got a little bit of facial hair”, according to his bearded dad.
“We’re basically monitoring how the changing process happens over this next month really.”
The newest royal is yet to meet his extended family. Photo: Getty
In the first two days, “Parenting is amazing,” a beaming Harry said.
“We’re just so thrilled to have our own little bundle of joy.”
Meghan said that on their way to the St George’s Hall photo call, the trio “bumped into” Harry’s grandfather Prince Philip.
Introducing him to his great-grandmother the Queen “will be a nice moment,” said the Duchess of Sussex, who added that it has been a family time because “my mum’s with us as well.”
After thanking well-wishers across the world, Meghan and Harry turned and walked off, her arm around his waist.
Seventh in line to the throne, Archie is the first member of the royal family to be entitled to dual citizenship.
The little boy is the Queen’s eighth great-grandchild. Photo: Getty
The little boy, who was 3.2 kilograms when he arrived on May 6 – reportedly at London’s celebrity favourite Portland Hospital after a secret dash from Frogmore Cottage – didn’t stir during his spotlit debut.
Prince Harry seemed as fresh as he did announcing the baby’s birth on Monday in an impromptu press conference in front of the Windsor Castle stables.
At the time he said he had only had a few hours’ sleep, suggesting Meghan had spent much of Sunday night in labour.
The baby’s arrival has been welcomed by other royal family members.
“I’m very pleased and glad to welcome my own brother into the sleep deprivation society that is parenting,” Prince William said on Tuesday, flanked by wife Kate Middleton at the launch of the King’s Cup Regatta.
William said he had “plenty of advice” for the new parents. Added Kate, “This next few weeks is always a bit daunting first time around.”
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