Wednesday, May 8, 2019 ~ UK.
~ West Shore Voice News
With a name fit for an interesting international life, the new royal baby — son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (Duke and Duchess of Sussex) — Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was introduced to the world today, May 8.
The setting was Windsor Castle, where the announcement came after the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh met their eighth and newest great-grandchild for the first time.
Seventh in line to the British throne, Archie is destined for a royal life but perhaps without the trappings and duties of a royal title. At the Queen’s discretion, the little boy could be bestowed with the title of Earl of Dumbarton (one of Harry’s subsidiary titles) or Lord Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.
The new baby was born on Monday May 6 at 5:26 am BST (9:26 pm PDT, May 5). His birthweight at 7 lb 3 oz is below the UK average of 7 lb 7 oz. His cousins who are 3rd, 4th and 5th in line to the throne are the children of Prince William and Kate: Prince George was 8lb 6oz (3.8kg) when he was born in July 2013. His sister Princess Charlotte was 8lbs 3oz (3.7kg) when she arrived in May 2015, while their younger brother Prince Louis weighed 8lb 7oz (3.8kg) when he was born in April 2018.
Breaking with royal tradition, the announcement was made by the baby’s father himself who chose a riding stable as the backdrop when meeting with the media this morning.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they would like to raise the baby with as normal a life as possible, in a sense dismissing the trappings of royalty to the degree that they can. Harry and Meghan have made a ‘career’ out of promoting various social and health-related philanthropic causes around the world.
The child has dual citizenship, as Megan Markle is still a US citizen and does not yet have her British citizenship approved.
Harry and Meghan were married less than a year ago, on May 19, 2018.
The direct heir to the British throne is Prince Charles, who turns 71 on November 14 this year.
The Queen is the longest-lived and longest-reigning British Monarch. She turned 93-years-old last month.