"Falling" pregnant

"Falling" pregnant
Getty Images

The moment that British royal enthusiasts have been waiting for since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said “I Do” has finally come to pass: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby! Kensington Palace announced the news of Meghan’s pregnancy the morning of October 15, complete with an approximate due date of spring 2019.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are far from what many consider a traditional royal couple.

But now that Meghan is pregnant with the newest addition to the royal family (who will be seventh in line, according to the rules of succession), there will be lots of traditions to uphold.

And the first is that in British terms, one does not “get pregnant.” Rather, one “falls pregnant.”

So when you hear that Meghan has “fallen pregnant,” please don’t be alarmed. It’s perfectly good news.

The maternity wardrobe can't be too revealing

The maternity wardrobe can't be too revealing
Getty Images

While you’ll likely see a lot of Meghan during the seven/eight months during which she’s publically pregnant, what you won’t see is a lot of skin.

While maternity fashions have become more body conscious in recent years, it’s virtually unheard of for an expectant royal to show cleavage—despite that larger breasts are as much a natural part of pregnancy as a swollen belly.

Perhaps Meghan needs to look towards Jackie Kennedy, whose signature looks will never go out of style.

Morning sickness is a public matter

Morning sickness is a public matter
Getty Images

Kate Middleton suffered terrible morning sickness in all three of her pregnancies.

It was so bad, in fact, that it had a clinical name: hyperemesis gravidarum, which the official royal website explained in a press release is “very acute morning sickness, which may require supplementary hydration, medication, and nutrients.”

If Meghan’s pregnancy proves difficult, as Kate’s pregnancies were, Meghan won’t be suffering alone.

The entire world will be suffering right along with her.

Forget comfy shoes

Forget comfy shoes
Getty Images

A woman’s bosom isn’t the only thing that swells when she’s expecting.

Swollen feet are a normal part of pregnancy, and many women cope by wearing comfy shoes, especially sandals, which allow those poor tootsies to breathe.

But not expectant royals.

Just as they must maintain decorum around their décolletage, they must also keep their toes covered, no matter how swollen their feet or how sweltering the temperatures.

Not pregnant but feeling bloated? Bloating can be triggered by certain foods, but it also can be the result of other, more surprising factors.

Travel is truncated

Travel is truncated
Getty Images

Most pregnant women are advised against travelling in the third trimester.

Royals, however, are advised against traveling at all during their pregnancies, especially overseas.

But Meghan might get some wiggle room.

The pregnancy news was announced right before she and Prince Harry launched a tour of Australia, and it can only be assumed that she’ll come back to England to give birth.

Don’t have a Royal bank account and want to travel? Here are 5 hacks to help you stretch your holiday budget.

No gender-reveal festivities

No gender-reveal festivities
Getty Images

Since the 1950s, eager-to-know expectant parents have been happily dispensing with the “mystery” of whether they’re having a boy or a girl via sonogram.

And some royals have joined in, including Princess Diana, who learned that Prince Harry would be a boy sometime during the pregnancy (although she didn’t tell Prince Charles, and here’s why).

However, what a royal must never do is reveal the gender to the public in advance of the birth.

Post birth no doubt Meghan will be exercising to get back to her usual figure.

And about that christening gown…

And about that christening gown...
Getty Images

Since 1841, every royal baby has been christened in an identical robe.

The original robe was made for the christening of Queen Victoria’s oldest daughter.

Queen Elizabeth was dressed in the same robe for her christening, and so were all her children.

In fact, all the Queen’s grandchildren were dressed in that very robe until 2008, when the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s son was dressed in a replica designed to preserve the original, according to the BBC.

Apaprently they have been saving their wedding cake to serve at their future children’s christenings.

A limited layette

A limited layette
Getty Images

With the gender of the soon-to-be-born heir a tightly-held secret, Meghan won’t be able to prepare an elaborate layette, or at least she’ll have to go with a neutral color like yellow.

In addition, anything but “formal” attire is frowned up for royal babies, so if Meghan has always dreamed of putting her baby in a bib embroidered with, “Spit happens,” sorry, but it’s not happening.

No matter how good the little bub looks, Meghan will no doubt think twice about posting hundreds of pictures on facebook.

No baby shower

No baby shower
Getty Images

Meghan Markle won’t be showered with a cake made of diapers.

The purpose of a baby shower is to “shower” the expectant mother with useful gifts she can use once her baby is born.

To shower an expectant royal as such would be considered “bad taste.” That’s why Kate Middleton never had one, nor did Princess Diana or any other royal mummy.

You could probably get away with gifting her one of these awesome Royal Pop! Dolls though.

Anyway, only special receiving blanket

Anyway, only special receiving blanket
Getty Images

A popular baby shower gift is a receiving blanket, which is a small, lightweight blanket used for swaddling your baby.

But there will be no point in gifting Meghan and Harry with receiving blankets, as their baby’s will already have been made by G.H. Hurt & Son, which has been making all royal receiving blankets for the past century.

Although when Prince George was born, he was famously introduced to the world in an Aden + Anais swaddle.

Forget home birth

Forget home birth
Getty Images

Having spent her share of time in Hollywood, Meghan Markle could be forgiven if she sometimes thinks about what it would be like to give birth at home or even in a bathtub. But it’s not happening.

Ironically, home birth was the way of the royals for far longer than it was the way of the general public, continuing all the way until the birth of Prince William in 1982 (Wills was the first royal heir to be born in a hospital).

However, ever since then, the protocol is to deliver at St. Mary’s Hospital, in the Lindo Wing.

No doubt this Ryoal will be delighted at the birth. After all, he has a soft spot for her.

Be prepared for baby's first photo op

Be prepared for baby's first photo op
Getty Images

Even when Kate Middleton had wanted to give birth at home in the Palace, it was not to be. The reason? Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told the Express that “the photos on the hospital steps of St Mary’s are a way of connecting with the public at large at a happy time.”

And even if a royal baby were born elsewhere (say, in the case of an emergency, as was the case with Sophie, Countess of Wessex, in 2003), “an immediate photocall would have to be arranged if paparazzi didn’t get a ‘traditional one.’”

Chances are Meghan won’t be taking any shots with her camera phone.

But first, tell the Queen

But first, tell the Queen
Getty Images

When a royal baby is born, the Queen must be notified first and must learn all the details of the royal baby before any information goes public, according to the Express.

And please note: If the baby is born before 8 a.m., the Queen must not be woken.

“Babies be damned, the Queen needs her beauty sleep,” explains The List.

On April 21,2016, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 90th birthday.

As the longest-reigning British monarch, mother of four, grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of five, her life has been devoted to service – and doing it with flair.

Royal birth announcements

Royal birth announcements
Getty Images

When the royal baby is born, Meghan won’t be picking out baby announcements from the local Hallmark shop.

Rather, the baby’s arrival will be announced by a town crier, followed by a typewritten statement placed on an easel in front of Buckingham Palace.

As the BBC explains, the public announcement of a royal birth “involves lots of pomp and circumstance.”

This article first appeared on RD.com.

Never miss a deal again - sign up now!

Connect with us: