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 Even though the child will only be seventh in line to the
British throne, such has been the interest in the Duke and
Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan are officially known,
that his or her birth is set to grab headlines across the globe.
"There will be huge interest in Harry and Meghan's baby," said
Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine. "It's another
potential grandchild for Diana, it's the mixture of Harry and
Meghan and it's less than a year since they were married so the
interest is going to be enormous."
There has long been fascination with the British royal family,
particularly in the United States, and the younger members such
as Harry, 34, his elder brother William, 36, and their spouses
are regularly greeted by large crowds and feted like film stars.
Some two billion people were estimated to have watched the 2011
wedding of William to wife Kate and tens of millions tuned in to
see the marriage of Harry, son of heir-to-the-throne Prince
Charles and his late first wife Diana, to U.S. actress Meghan at
Windsor Castle last May.
Their union, bringing together royalty and celebrity, has proved
an irresistible combination for the world's media.
"I think people really fell in love with their love story," said
Laura Hills, Assistant Editor (Features & Royal) at OK!
Magazine.
"The fairytale of ... the prince falling for the American
actress and for sort of the Hollywood side of her life, the fact
she was on a Netflix TV show and now ... she's attending royal
engagements so I think that definitely creates a wider
interest."
During an event in January, Meghan, 37, revealed that she was
six months pregnant and she is not expected to carry out any
more official engagements before the birth.
"It’s all very exciting," said Rosie O'Dea, 25, as she walked
across Westminster Bridge near parliament. "It's showing that
the royal family is a little bit more progressive than maybe
thought before, with Meghan from the States and a bi-racial baby
and everything and that's brilliant."
"You know I think they kind of need to show that they're in
keeping with the times as well," she added.
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CHANGED PERCEPTIONS
Leon Campbell, who was skateboarding near the London Eye ferris
wheel, said the couple had helped change perceptions about the
royals.
"I'll be more interested in this (royal baby) because Harry is the
cool one, ... he's the wild card, he's the ginger one," he said.
Veteran royal editor Robert Jobson from London's Evening Standard
newspaper said it would be a very special baby whose arrival would
match the excitement generated by the birth of Prince George,
William's first son and a future king.
"The reality is Meghan - American, divorcee, bi-racial, marries
Prince Harry - their child is going to be an incredibly important
child in terms of the monarchy but also in terms of America. You
know she is very much America's princess," he told Reuters.
"I have not seen this much interest in anybody, not even Kate when
she married Prince William."
However, in the same way many Britons have complained of Brexit
boredom and the incessant media coverage it generates, some are
hardly thrilled by the prospect of the another royal.
"Everyone has babies ... so frankly I don't care," said Donna Smith,
sitting a cafe at an east London market. But for those whose job it
is to document the royals, there is no doubting the interest the new
baby will generate.
"It could be 27th (in line to the throne) - it's Harry's baby, Harry
and Meghan are the big story now," said photographer Arthur Edwards,
who has covered the royals for the Sun tabloid for more than four
decades.
"He is much loved here by the people. There'll be huge crowds at the
hospital when they bring the little baby out."
(Writing by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)
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