How Harry and Meghan broke longstanding royal tradition started by Princess Anne

The tradition of royal mothers being photographed on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital began in 1977 with Princess Anne, following the birth of her son, Peter Phillips.

Princess Diana continued the custom after the arrivals of Prince William in 1982 and Prince Harry in 1984. 

While Sarah Ferguson chose the Portland Hospital for both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie‘s births, in 1988 and 1990 respectively, she eagerly introduced her children to the photographers waiting outside. 

In later years, Kate Middleton upheld the tradition, appearing outside the Lindo Wing shortly after the arrival of each of her three children: Prince George in 2013; Princess Charlotte in 2015; and Prince Louis in 2018 – just seven hours after labour.

Wearing a blue and white polka-dot Jenny Packham dress and heels, Kate smiled warmly as she introduced newborn George to the public.

In a 2020 episode of the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast with author and host Giovanna Fletcher, Kate reflected on the significance of that moment. 

She shared: ‘Everyone had been so supportive and both William and I were really conscious that this was something that everyone was excited about and, you know, we’re hugely grateful for the support that the public had shown us, and actually for us to be able to share that joy and appreciation with the public, I felt was really important.’

In contrast, Prince Harry and Meghan chose to keep the birth of their son, Prince Archie, more private.

The tradition of royal mothers being photographed on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital began in 1977 with Princess Anne, following the birth of her son, Peter Phillips

A wave from Princess Anne as she leaves the Lindo Wing with her son, Peter

Princess Diana continued the custom after the arrival of Prince William in 1982

Two years later, Diana introduced Prince Harry to the world in 1984

While Sarah Ferguson chose the Portland Hospital for both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s births, in 1988 and 1990 respectively, she eagerly introduced her children to the photographers waiting outside (pictured with Eugenie)

Kate Middleton upheld the tradition, appearing outside the Lindo Wing shortly after the birth of Prince George in 2013

Kate beamed in a floral Jenny Packham dress as she held newborn Princess Charlotte in 2015

The royal couple appeared with Prince Louis just seven hours after his birth in 2018

Ahead of Archie’s arrival in 2019, Buckingham Palace released a statement noting that the Sussexes had ‘taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private,’ adding that they looked forward to sharing the news after they’d had time to celebrate as a new family. 

Meghan was thought to have wanted a home birth after rejecting a stay at the Lindo Wing.

But, more than a week overdue, she was forced to have Archie in hospital, opting for the Portland, where labour suites feature 24-hour room service, Molton Brown toiletries and four-poster cots.

The couple visited the hospital in secret and, within hours of the birth, had returned to Frogmore Cottage without arousing any suspicion. 

Archie was introduced to the world two days after his birth in a carefully managed photocall at St George’s Hall within Windsor Castle.

Harry, visibly overjoyed, carried his newborn son, while Meghan, glowing in a Grace Wales Bonner tuxedo dress, told the press: ‘It’s magic. It’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy.’

The couple announced Archie’s full name – Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor – on Instagram shortly after, alongside a touching photo of Queen Elizabeth meeting her new great-grandchild.

This week, Meghan revisited that memory during the first episode of her podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder, in conversation with her friend, Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder of Bumble and co-founder of Tinder.

In contrast, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to keep the birth of Prince Archie more private

Archie was introduced to the world two days after his birth in a carefully managed photocall at St George’s Hall within Windsor Castle

Harry, visibly overjoyed, carried his newborn son, while Meghan, glowing in a Grace Wales Bonner tuxedo dress, told the press: ‘It’s magic. It’s pretty amazing. I have the two best guys in the world, so I’m really happy’

Wolfe Herd recalled the moment Meghan presented Archie to the world.

‘I’ll never forget the image of you after delivering Archie, and the whole world was waiting. I was either just becoming or about to become a new mom, and I thought, ‘Oh my God, how is this woman doing this? How is she standing there in heels, introducing her baby to the world in this beautiful outfit?’

She added with a laugh: ‘I could barely face a doorbell delivery for takeout food in a robe.’

Both women also discussed their experiences with postpartum preeclampsia – a serious condition involving high blood pressure and protein in the urine after childbirth – which Wolfe Herd described as ‘life or death, truly’.

Meghan did not specify whether she experienced the condition after Archie or Lilibet’s birth.

By the time Lilibet Diana was born in 2021, Harry and Meghan had stepped back from royal duties and settled in Montecito, California. 

Their daughter was delivered at the private Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

Buckingham Palace reportedly learned of her birth only after the couple shared the news publicly on social media, with the Palace issuing a congratulatory message around 90 minutes later.