Prince Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, are expecting their first child in the spring, Kensington Palace said Monday.
The announcement came hours after Harry and the former Meghan Markle arrived in Sydney at the start of a 16-day visit to Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand. Hundreds of people gathered to catch a glimpse of the couple after they landed.
sa国际传媒淭heir 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,sa国际传媒� the palace said in a statement.
After their arrival in Sydney, the prince and the former American actress held hands and walked out an airport rear entrance and into a car. Meghan, wearing skinny black pants and a black, burgundy trimmed coat, was smiling and clutching folders, while Harry gave a thumbs up to bystanders.
The announcement of the pregnancy confirms weeks of speculation from royal watchers about why Meghan was not joining Harry on his Sydney Harbour Bridge climb set for Friday.
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Harry and Meghan sa国际传媒� along with Prince William and his wife, Kate, the duchess of Cambridge sa国际传媒� have stepped to the fore in the last year as Queen Elizabeth II, 92, slightly reduces her public schedule.
Mondaysa国际传媒檚 announcement is welcome news in Britain, where Meghan has won many hearts since her engagement to Harry was announced last December.
British Prime Minister Theresa May offered her sa国际传媒渨armest congratulationssa国际传媒� on the news, which provided a bit of relief from concerns about the stalled Brexit negotiations. sa国际传媒淲ishing them all the best,sa国际传媒� May tweeted.
The royal couple started dating in July 2016 after they were introduced by friends, and Harry courted Meghan on a trip to Africa shortly afterward. They kept their relationship secret for several months but word eventually leaked to the British press.
They were married in May in a spectacular ceremony on the grounds of Windsor Castle that drew tens of thousands of people to Windsor and was watched by a global TV audience.
Harry has become immensely popular in Britain, in part because of his military service and tireless work on behalf of wounded soldiers, and he has spoken often in recent years of his desire to settle down and start a family.
When the couple got engaged, Harry was asked about plans for children.
sa国际传媒淵ou know, I think one step at a time, and hopefully wesa国际传媒檒l start a family in the near future,sa国际传媒� he said.
He said in 2015, before he met Meghan, that he would sa国际传媒渓ove to have kids right now.sa国际传媒�
Meghan has also talked about wanting to have children.
She said in a 2016 interview that becoming a mother was on her sa国际传媒渂ucket list.sa国际传媒� She was still acting in sa国际传媒淪uitssa国际传媒� at the time.
sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 wait to start a family, but in due time,sa国际传媒� she said.
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Meghan, with her American roots and successful acting career, has been seen as a modernizing influence on the sometimes stodgy royal family, and she is credited by many for bringing happiness to Harry, who has long struggled to cope with the early death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Harry has broken new ground by talking openly about his mental health issues related to the death of his mother when he was only 12, and that candidness, which is part of a royal campaign to raise awareness about mental illness and end the stigma surrounding it, has brought the royals increased public backing.
The royal couplesa国际传媒檚 trip Down Under is their only international tour since they were married, apart from a two-day visit to Ireland.
Days after watching Harrysa国际传媒檚 cousin Princess Eugenie tie the knot in a lavish ceremony in Windsor, the couple touched down in Sydney on an overcast morning after a regular Qantas Airways flight from London with a brief stopover in Singapore.
Sydneysa国际传媒檚 weather is expected to be drizzly and cool on Tuesday, with showers forecast for most of the week.
It wonsa国际传媒檛 be the first time Harry has had to brave the rain in Sydney. Last year, he made a whirlwind visit to cast his eye over the Invictus Games preparations, where he charmed his fans during torrential rain.
The couplesa国际传媒檚 current tour coincides with the games, which start in Sydney on Saturday. The sporting event, founded by Harry in 2014, gives sick and injured military personnel and veterans the opportunity to compete in sports such as wheelchair basketball.
Harry and Meghan will attend the gamessa国际传媒� opening and closing ceremonies. In all, they have 76 engagements scheduled over 16 days in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand.
In Australia, they will pet a koala in a Sydney zoo, visit the drought-stricken Outback town of Dubbo and meet indigenous leaders on Fraser Island, the worldsa国际传媒檚 largest sand island, in northeastern Queensland state.
The royal couple was driven from the airport to Admiralty House, the official Sydney residence of Governor General Peter Cosgrove, who represents Australiasa国际传媒檚 head of state, Queen Elizabeth II, Harrysa国际传媒檚 grandmother. The couple had no official functions on Monday following the 17,140-kilometre (10,650-mile) flight that Qantas says takes 22 hours and 20 minutes.
Hundreds of well-wishers gathered with umbrellas outside the airport and Admiralty House in the hope of catching a glimpse of Harry and Meghan. The crowd cheered as the waving couple was driven through the gates of the harbour-side mansion.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who plans to climb with Harry to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, told Parliament on Monday that he commended the prince for coming to Sydney for the Invictus Games and welcomed the couple.
sa国际传媒淚 want to sa国际传媒� commend Prince Harry for his tremendous initiative in lifting the spirits of every single serviceman and woman all around the globe,sa国际传媒� Morrison said.
After the announcement that Harry and Meghan are expecting a baby, Morrison tweeted: sa国际传媒淲hat fantastic news! Australia is thrilled for you both. Looking forward to sharing in the joy during your stay down under.sa国际传媒�
U.S. President Donald Trumpsa国际传媒檚 representative in Britain, Ambassador Woody Johnson, tweeted: sa国际传媒淗appy news to wake up to on a Monday morning - congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex!!sa国际传媒�
The royal couplesa国际传媒檚 visit comes six months after Harrysa国际传媒檚 father, Prince Charles, made his 16th official visit to Australia, primarily to open the 21st Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast city in Queensland.
The Associated Press
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