Newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are expecting a baby in the spring, the royal household announced on Monday.
The news came as the couple arrived in Sydney at the start of a 16-day tour of the South Pacific and Australia, a constitutional monarchy whose head of state is Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The new baby will be seventh in line to the throne, after Harry and first cousins, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.
"Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public," according to a statement from Kensington Palace.
The two have made no secret of wanting to start a family. In an interview with the BBC in November 2017, after announcing their engagement, Harry was asked if he and Meghan had talked about having children.
"Of course, one step at a time and hopefully we'll start a family in the near future," he responded.
On Monday, the two walked out of the airport hand in hand as crowds lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their car. They will visit cities around Australia, and Harry is scheduled to speak at the opening of the Invictus Games, which he created for wounded service personnel. They will then travel to Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
The duke and duchess married on May 19 at Windsor Castle. Their star-studded celebrations drew the attention from around the world as around 100,000 people crowded the streets of Windsor,including many Americans who flew in specially for the big day.
This past weekend, they attended the wedding of Harry's first cousin, Princess Eugenie, which like theirs, took place in St. George's Chapel in Windsor.
Since the duke and duchess announced their engagement, they have had a busy schedule supporting various causes and charities. Last month, the duchess attended her first solo engagement, the opening of an exhibition of South Pacific art at the Royal Academy of Art.
In August, Harry made an appearance on stage at a performance of Hamilton.
The duchess, who is mixed race and was previously married, has been hailed as a modern addition to an old institution. She's been warmly welcomed by the British public and the royal family. One of her first engagements after the wedding was a trip to the northwest of England with the queen.
Source: nbcnews
BDST: 1632 HRS, OCT 15, 2018
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