The Duke and Duchess (and Baby Sussex) thank you so much: Meghan and Harry spark fresh royal baby fever as they reference their new arrival for the first time while thanking fans for their donations in lieu of gifts
- Prince Harry and Meghan thanked royal fans for donating to charities
- They said this was 'on behalf of The Duke and Duchess (and Baby Sussex)'
- The first reference to 'Baby Sussex' delighted royal fans on social media
- They asked well-wishers to donate to charities for children and parents
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex sparked fresh royal baby fever this afternoon as they referred to their first child as 'Baby Sussex' for the first time, just days before its expected arrival.
On their official Instagram page today, Prince Harry and Meghan thanked royal fans for donating to charities for children and parents instead of sending them gifts.
As they count the total amount raised ahead of the baby's arrival, the couple added: 'On behalf of The Duke and Duchess (and Baby Sussex), we thank you so much.'
On their official Instagram page today, Prince Harry and Meghan thanked royal fans for donating to charities for children and parents instead of sending them gifts
The reference to 'Baby Sussex' in the post today delighted royal fans on social media
Fans were touched by the royal couple's adoption of 'their' name for the unborn child
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The reference to 'Baby Sussex' delighted royal fans on social media, with one praising the initiative and saying: 'Mentioning Baby Sussex is the cherry on top!'
The post also used the American word 'diapers' - perhaps a nod to it being written by Meghan - and it was informally signed off: 'You made this happen. Thank you.'
It comes a week after they asked well-wishers to donate to charities for children and parents including The Lunch Box Fund, Little Village, WellChild and Baby2Baby.
Harry and Meghan are believed to be planning a home birth for their first child at their new home Frogmore Cottage, close to the Queen's Windsor Castle home.
The couple are also said to have picked their own team to directly oversee the arrival of the Queen's latest great grandchild - dispensing with senior royal medical staff.
Meghan and Harry are keeping details about the arrangements for the birth private, with news only released after they have celebrated privately as a new family.
In an update today, the royal account revealed that Lunchbox can now provide 100,000 additional hot nutritious meals to children in need across South Africa.
Little Village, a clothes, toys and equipment bank for young children, has received donations from around the world and had a surge in volunteer applications.
Well Child, which helps seriously ill children to be cared for at home, can now provide more than 300 additional hours of specialist care by a Well Child nurse thanks to the donations.
Baby2Baby, which helps children and parents in need in Meghan's home city of Los Angeles, has received more than 5,000 products including cots, books, backpacks and nappies, along with money.
Harry and Meghan's request followed a viral global baby shower campaign started by Twitter user @freepeeper, urging well-wishers to donate to the charities Mayhew, the Campaign for Female Education (Camfed), and WellChild.
It comes on the day a bookmaker slashed the odds on the Duchess of Sussex giving birth over the Easter weekend.
More than half a million people liked this Instagram post by the couple suggesting that in lieu of gifts, well-wishers could donate to charity
The Sussexes have chosen four charities to benefit from their fans' largesse: The Lunchbox; Baby 2 Baby, Well Child Awards and Little Village
Ladbrokes has it at 3/1 that Meghan and the Duke of Sussex will welcome their first-born sometime between the Good Friday and Easter Monday bank holidays.
Easter Sunday on April 21 also coincides with the Queen's 93rd birthday this year. The odds for a baby girl are 4/7, while a boy is 13/10.
For the baby's name, Elizabeth and Diana are the joint front runners at 6/1, followed by 8/1 for Victoria. Albert and Philip are the most popular boys' names at 12/1.
Harry and Meghan left their three-week tour of Australia and New Zealand last year laden with more than 300 gifts for their little one.
From cuddly toy echidnas and platypuses, to Baby Sussex’s first pair of UGG boots, they were overwhelmed by presents from well-wishers and dignitaries.
Details were released by Buckingham Palace last week as part of the annual disclosure of gifts given to senior royals in the course of their official duties last year.
