Will the Duke and Duchess of Sussex give Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet a sibling?
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their young children, four-year-old Prince Archie and two-year-old Princess Lilibet, two years apart, so are they considering expanding their family in the near future?
It’s a question many fans have been asking themselves, particularly since Harry’s brother Prince William is a father to three children and his cousin Zara Tindall has a brood of three.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle certainly have plenty of space in their family home in Montecito, California should they want to welcome a new baby Sussex, but that’s unlikely to be on the cards based on the couple’s previous comments.
Read on to find out what the Sussexes have said about expanding their family.
Everything Harry and Meghan have said about baby number three
While Meghan was pregnant with Lilibet, King Charles’ son told Oprah Winfrey: “[I’m] just grateful to have any child. Any, one or two, would have been amazing but to have a boy and then a girl what more can you ask for? Now we’ve got our family, we got the four of us and our two dogs.”
He added they were “done” with two children and Duchess Meghan – who sadly suffered a miscarriage in July 2020 – agreed, stating: “Two is it.”
Doting dad Harry has also previously expressed his desire to help the environment by limiting the number of children he has.
© NetflixBack in July 2019, the son of Prince Charles interviewed Dr Jane Goodall for Vogue Magazine and said: “I think, weirdly, because of the people that I’ve met and the places that I’ve been fortunate enough to go to, I’ve always had a connection and a love for nature. I view it differently now, without question. But I’ve always wanted to try and ensure that, even before having a child and hoping to have children…”
Jane then replied, laughing: “Not too many!” about the size of his brood.
The Prince assured her: “Two, maximum! But I’ve always thought: this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation.”
© GettyHarry’s cousin Zara Tindall also welcomed a baby in 2021, her third child Lucas Philip, and her husband Mike revealed how their family is now complete too.
Speaking on The Good, the Bad and the Rugby podcast after Lucas’ birth, Mike told listeners how he felt after his new son arrived. He revealed: “I literally was like ‘Yep, snip, snip, snip’ I’ve got a boy. I’m out. I’m out of here.”
© Misan HarrimanHarry and Meghan shared news of Lilibet’s arrival on their website, writing: “On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family.”
Meghan’s pregnancy with Archie
© GettyThe Sussexes’ first pregnancy announcement came as the couple landed in Australia for their first major royal tour in October 2018.
Harry revealed in his memoir, Spare, released in January 2023 that Meghan “felt lucky not to be suffering severe morning sickness” and was “tired, but otherwise a dynamo”.
In a royal first, the couple later shared Archie’s ultrasound scan photo in their Netflix docuseries, released in December 2022, as well as a photobooth shot of Harry kissing his wife’s growing baby bump. Take a look back at the moment in the video below…
Meghan’s closest friends, including Serena Williams, also threw the Duchess a baby shower at The Mark Hotel in Manhattan.
© NetflixAhead of their son’s birth, the Sussexes moved from Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.
Harry shared in his book that Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, had flown over from the US to stay with them ahead of the baby’s birth. The Duchess was a week overdue when Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor arrived at London’s Portland Hospital.
Meghan’s pregnancy with Lilibet
© NetflixThe Sussexes moved to the US after announcing their decision to step back as senior royals in January 2020.
Harry and Meghan revealed the Duchess’ second pregnancy on Valentine’s Day 2021, with two special photographs taken by close friend and photographer Misan Harriman.
The images, which were taken over Zoom amid the pandemic, showed Meghan cradling her baby bump, with her head in husband Harry’s lap. The second showed the pregnant Duchess holding Archie in her arms, as Harry hugged his wife.
During their headline-making interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, the Duchess revealed that she was expecting a daughter.
The couple also shared snaps from Meghan’s pregnancy with Lilibet in their Netflix docuseries, showing the Duchess and Archie relaxing on a bed together.