Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Daughter Isn't the First Royal To Be Born In America Or Even California

Jun 08, 2021

Meghan Markle has given birth to her second child, a girl, with Prince Harry on June 4, 2021, at 11:40 a.m., according to an official statement from the couple. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first announced that they were expecting their second child on Valentine's Day in 2021, only to reveal the baby's sex during the March 7 interview special "Oprah with Meghan and Harry." Since the couple announced the pregnancy, royal fans were excited to welcome a new member into the royal family.

While the royal family is unlikely to immediately assign the newborn a title, Meghan and Harry's daughter will become a princess if Prince Charles becomes king, as grandchildren of the king are automatically granted prince and princess status, according to Elle. In this case, Meghan and Harry's first-born child, 2-year-old Archie Mountbatten-Windsor, would also become a prince. With Queen Elizabeth II still at the helm, Archie remains seventh in line to the throne while Harry and Meghan's baby girl is just behind her big brother. 

However, it has been revealed that Lilibet is in fact not the first royal to be born in the United States or even California! Interestingly, another royal who is in line to the throne was born in the state back in 2013. Wales Online reported that Maud Windsor was born in Los Angeles in 2013 and is the daughter of Lord Frederick and Sophie Winkelman. The young girl is actually 51st in line to the throne and even goes to the same school as Prince George. 

According to Wales Online, Lord Frederick is the son of Elizabeth's cousin Prince Michael of Kent and he actually grew up in Kensington Palace along with Harry and Prince William. Sophie is also known as Lady Frederick Windsor, and she is a British actress who is best known for playing Big Suze in the show "Peep Show." 

Their daughter Maud was 42nd in line to the throne when she was born in 2013 but following the birth of other royal members such as Archie, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, she has been bumped down nine places. However, she is still close to the royal family.

She and her family returned to the UK before her younger sister Isabella was born and Maud actually goes to the same school and is in the same year as her cousin Prince George. In fact, Maud was even a bridesmaid for Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018. 

The line of succession to the throne keeps changing as more members of the family are born. Lilibet's birth has bumped down other members in the line of succession as the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie. Beatrice is due to have a baby in the autumn, and this child will be 11th in line to the throne. 

Lilibet, being the granddaughter of the future king, Prince Charles, gets an automatic title of "Princess" when Charles takes the throne. However, all of this remains up in the air since both Meghan and Harry have distanced themselves from the royal family, stepping back from their roles as working royals in January 2020 and moving to Southern California shortly thereafter.

The couple's big announcement on Sunday, June 6, 2021, is the first bit of good news the royal family has had in a while, given the saddening events of the past few years, which have been filled with strife and mourning. Prince Philip, who would have been the child's great grandfather, passed away on April 9 at 99 years old. At the time, Meghan could not make it to Philip's April 17 funeral because doctors advised against traveling to the UK while pregnant.

PEOPLE reported that the statement from the couple released on Sunday read:

"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet "Lili" Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world." 

The statement continued: 

"Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home."

The baby girl's name is truly meaningful as well, as all royal fans would know, and this was also addressed in the statement.

"Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."

Harry and Meghan's spokesperson concluded their statement:

"This is the second child for the couple, who also have a two-year-old son named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The Duke and Duchess thank you for your warm wishes and prayers as they enjoy this special time as a family."

Did you know about the royal who was born in California before Lilibet? Be sure to pass this news onto others as well, and do let us know what you think of Lilibet's name choice.