Meghan Markle's Pregnancy: Weird Rumors The World Believed
Nearly five months after 29.2 million of us tuned in to watch Prince Harry and Meghan Markle become husband and wife, Kensington Palace announced that their family would be growing. "...The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019," the statement read, in part. Before the baby news was confirmed by the royal family, though, rumors were already abundant — and this trend would only pick up steam as Meghan got further along in her pregnancy.
While there's been talk of the baby's exact due date, gender, and birth plan, Meghan and Harry are staying mum. "Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private," Buckingham Palace revealed in a statement in April 2019. "The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family." Of course, that's not exactly going to stop the gossip from spreading. Here are some of the absolute weirdest rumors we've heard surrounding Meghan Markle and her pregnancy.
She was pregnant in 2017
Kensington Palace revealed Meghan's pregnancy in October 2018 and although that was the first official report, it was not the first time we'd heard that Meghan was expecting. An entire year earlier, Ok! Magazine cited "Palace insiders" who claimed Meghan was as far as three months along. The publication also ran a "pregnant" photo of Meghan on the cover and it might just have been enough to fool you into thinking the news was true.
Of course, we later found out that this rumor was all kinds of false. Prince Harry married Meghan the following May and, as the world witnessed, there was neither a baby bump nor a postpartum bump in sight. Nevertheless, the baby gossip would not end there. After the couple got hitched, many kept an even more watchful eye on Meghan. From fortunetellers to oddsmakers, nearly everyone was making predictions on when there would be a royal pregnancy.
The baby news "tipped Eugenie over the edge"
October 2018 was an exciting month for the royal family — and all of us royal stans, too. Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank on October 12 temporarily distracted the masses from the is-she-or-isn't-she pregnancy drama. But, just three days later the official word went out that Harry and Meghan were expecting a baby. Although the focus quickly started shifting back to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, news began spreading that Meghan announced her pregnancy to the royal family while attending Eugenie's wedding. Gasp.
Radar Online, quoting an anonymous insider, reported that Meghan's supposed ill-timed baby announcement "tipped Eugenie over the edge." The source continued, saying, "Eugenie disappeared for a while after Harry and Meghan told the royal family the news. She felt furious at having been upstaged again by Harry and Meghan." Etiquette experts agreed that announcing a pregnancy at someone's wedding is a cringey thing to do, but did it actually happen?
While can't confirm anything definitively, Harper's Bazaar released a contradictory report citing their own anonymous source who said Meghan and Harry actually broke the news before Eugenie's big day. However, it was the first opportunity many had to congratulate her face-to-face.
The baby bump is fake
One of the most pervasive rumors that exists about Meghan's pregnancy is that there is no pregnancy. That is, her baby bump is fake. There are a few reasons why some people have theorized that the duchess' bump is not made of flesh and blood. "Her belly button is placed between her ribs," one skeptical Twitter user noted. "What is this nonsense? ...How can someone think this deformed bump is real?" Another conspiracy theorist pointed to Meghan's "odd ever-changing 'baby bump'" in photos and her "square"-shaped belly as proof that the duchess is not really pregnant. "I've got [three kids]. My belly was NEVER shaped like that," the person tweeted. Plenty of others have gone on to cite similar reasons for believing Meghan is not actually with child.
Express reported that some even think Meghan is using a prosthetic bump because she touches her belly "too much" and is "too slim." The publication further said that "sick internet trolls" have accused her of faking her pregnancy just "to get attention." Obviously, this would be a terribly short-lived plan.
She's actually using a surrogate
Not everyone who believes Meghan is sporting a faux baby bump thinks she's doing it for attention. Some think she's pretending to be pregnant while using a surrogate. Those who already believed in this conspiracy only became more convinced after Buckingham Palace issued a statement saying the new parents plan to "celebrate privately as a new family." Citing the statement, one Twitter user pointed out, "Notice it said nothing about 'birth,' or 'giving birth.'" The person claimed the royal family was being particularly cautious about their wording. It sure sounds like quite a stretch, but this theorist is certain. "In other words, after [the surrogate] has baby & they've had time to bond, they will announce," the person tweeted.
After reading the statement, other skeptics also became convinced that Meghan isn't actually pregnant. A Twitter user explained, "100% agree. I held out belief until today." We'll just say this: The internet is strange, strange place.
It's all just a political scheme
The pregnancy rumors can't get any weirder than the fake baby bump gossip, right? Ha. Enter: Greg Pollowitz. "Prince Harry's kids will be Americans," the writer and editor began in a tweet. "What if one grows up to be president and is in line for the throne at the same time?" He continued, theorizing, "Brits are playing long-ball here, but it's a smart move. They want America back and this is how they'll do it." Wait, what?
To follow this line of thinking you'd not only have to believe that Harry and Meghan decided to have a child to one day take over the United States, but that it was the royal family's plan to fix Harry up with an American all along. It's also worth noting that Meghan and Harry's firstborn will be so far removed from the throne that he or she would likely never rule. As far as becoming president is concern, The Chicago Tribune explained that it would take "an exemption from Congress" and either a renouncement of the throne or "special permission" from the government to remain in the line of succession.
Prince Harry isn't the father
When Harry and Meghan were visiting Morocco in February 2019, a woman congratulated the duchess on her pregnancy. "Thank you," Meghan told the woman. Harry looked over at his wife and quipped, "What, you're pregnant?" His reaction incited laughter from those around them. "Surprise!" she told her husband as he looked at the woman who congratulated Meghan. "Is it mine?" he joked.
While it was surely meant to be funny, the clip seemed to raise some eyebrows. "Might there be trouble in Royal paradise?" asked The Hollywood Gossip. Referencing Harry's joke, the article continued, "We can't help but wonder about this possibility after something Harry said to his wife in front of many witnesses." Later, the site stated in disbelief: "Did Harry really just ask [Meghan] whether she cheated on him?"
Even though the prince was making a joke, this insinuation of an affair has only snowballed into a bigger and bigger story. By March 2019, unsubstantiated reports even claimed Meghan had devised an entire backup plan for when, or if, she leaves Harry. Oh, my.
Meghan is avoiding all gender stereotypes
Royal expert Katie Nicholl revealed in an article for Vanity Fair that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were opting for a "monochrome" and gender-neutral room for baby. "...Whites and grays, I'm told, will be the color theme for baby Sussex's nursery," the expert said. As it is more-or-less a royal family tradition to learn of the baby's sex at birth rather than during pregnancy, a neutral nursery makes a lot of sense.
However, a rumor soon spread that claimed there was an entirely different reason for the gender-neutral nursery. "Meghan has been talking to some of her friends about the birth and how she and Harry plan to raise their baby. Her exact word was fluid," Vanity Fair quoted an unnamed source. "She said they plan to raise their child with a fluid approach to gender and they won't be imposing any stereotypes." But this isn't true, at least not according to a Palace spokesman. In a statement provided to Hello! Magazine, the Palace kiboshed the rumor calling the report "totally false."
She's expecting twins
It's been long speculated that Meghan is not having one baby, but rather two. "Having been a midwife for over 16 years and seen and encountered countless pregnant mums, Meghan has consistently carried a larger than expected bump, suggesting she could be expecting twins," midwife Lesley Gilchrist told Cosmopolitan. However, Gilchrist said it might just be that Meghan "has simply grown a really healthy baby" or that she's attempting to "avoid scrutiny around her due date by giving a falsely later date."
As far back as November 2018, people were fully convinced that Meghan and Harry were expecting two babies. At the time, a spokesperson for the online betting company Paddy Power told The Daily Mail, "An unprecedented amount of bets on Meghan and Harry to have twins has forced us to stop taking bets on the market altogether this morning." He further explained, "Since the day began, the stream of bets has led us to believe that perhaps the punters — or an insider source — knows something more than we do."
And the twins are girls
In January 2019, the National Enquirer went one step further and claimed that Meghan was not only pregnant with twins, but that they knew the sex of the babies. According to New Idea, which referenced the tabloid's report, Megs had recently found out she was pregnant with twin girls. "Meghan couldn't contain her excitement. She blurted out the news, and Queen Elizabeth offered her congratulations," an anonymous insider apparently told the publication.
In January 2019, royal corespondent Roya Nikkhah reported on Twitter that Meghan had commented on her pregnancy while visiting local organizations in Birkenhead, England. "The Duchess of Sussex has revealed that she is expecting her baby at the end of April/early May, but she and Harry have chosen not to find out if it's a girl or boy so they can keep it a 'surprise.'" Obviously, this would mean Meghan did not actually find out the sex or her baby — nor babies.
Wait, it's just one baby and it's a boy
Without specifically commenting on these rumors, the royal family has already proven false the reports of twins. In both the official royal pregnancy announcement and the official statement on the child's expected arrival, the word "baby" is not used in the plural form. In the latter statement, Buckingham Palace revealed, "Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private." And, in the pregnancy announcement, Kensington Palace said that Meghan "is expecting a baby." Just one, folks.
While some may have given up hope that Meghan is having twins, there still remains a whole lot of speculation about the baby's sex. Citing an anonymous source, Us Weekly reported that the duchess revealed the baby's sex at her baby shower in New York City. According to the source, Meghan revealed that she's having a boy. This contradicts Meghan's own comments — and royal tradition — about keeping the sex a surprise. It's hard to see this rumor being true.
The baby will be vegan, much to the queen's chagrin
Are Meghan and Harry planning to raise their baby vegan? An anonymous Palace source allegedly told Women's Day that those are Meghan's wishes. "The Queen won't have it," the source told the publication. "It's created tense discussions between Meghan and Harry, who doesn't want to upset his grandmother. He's hoping Meghan will settle once the baby comes and he's putting this latest [polarizing] idea down to heightened emotions while being pregnant."
This rumor likely stems from an interview Meghan gave back in May 2016 with Best Health. "I try to eat vegan during the week and then have a little bit more flexibility with what I dig into on the weekends," the then-actress explained. "But at the same time, it's all about balance." While we don't know for sure if this rumor is true or — for lack of a better word — hogwash, it definitely doesn't sound like Meghan would enforce veganism on her little one, especially if she is not a strict vegan herself.
Meghan doesn't want "men in suits" delivering the baby
Where will Meghan deliver her baby? It's a question that many are pondering. In April 2019, The Daily Mail claimed to have the answer. One source allegedly told the publication, "Meghan said she doesn't want the men in suits. She was adamant that she wanted her own people. It did leave a few of us a little baffled." In another Daily Mail article, anonymous sources also allegedly revealed that Meghan is planning to have a "midwife-led birth" at home.
Having a child at home may sound unusual for royalty, but it was once standard. Princess Anne was actually the first royal woman to give birth in a hospital, Reader's Digest revealed. As Anne declined royal titles for her children, Princess Diana's later decision to give birth at the same place would mark the first time a royal heir — in this case, William — had been born in a hospital. Diana is also said to be the first royal woman in modern history to have chosen a drug-free, natural childbirth.
She's having the baby at the Lindo Wing
Not everyone thinks Meghan is opting for a home birth. Other reports have speculated that Meghan is going to follow in the footsteps of Princess Anne, Diana, and Duchess Kate and deliver her baby at St. Mary's hospital. It has, after all, become somewhat of a royal tradition.
According to The Telegraph, a source informed them that staff at St. Mary's Lindo Wing had been "asked not to take holiday in April." The source continued, saying, "Everyone thinks it's got something to do with the royal baby but no one is confirming anything." Hm.
While it's not possible for Meghan to have both a home birth and a hospital delivery, either birth plan is feasible. Nevertheless, it doesn't seem like we're going to find out — at least, not until after Meghan gives birth. As the Buckingham Palace revealed in their statement in April 2019, Harry and Meghan are keeping "the plans around the arrival of their baby private."
Kate won't be the godmother because of "the rift"
Nearly as soon as Meghan married into the royal family, rumors began swirling that she and her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, were at odds. But, there's really no basis for a feud. "The rift was an inevitable narrative because the idea of two duchesses having a cat fight was too irresistible for the press not to go near," royal expert Katie Nicholl told USA Today. Although the royal family lets a lot of rumors fly, they have spoken up about the sisters-in-law's "rift." After the British newspaper The Sun released a particularly salacious report about a fight between Meghan and Kate, a Palace spokesperson flat-out denied the claims, telling The Mirror, "This never happened."
Still, some are under the guise that Meghan and Kate don't get along. When speculation began over Harry and Meghan's potential godparents, it was revealed that Kate would likely not be the child's godmother. But don't think this is because the two are feuding. As an aunt, Kate will already have a role in baby Sussex's life. As royal expert Victoria Arbiter explained, the child will likely have godparents outside the immediate family.