Since the announcement that she was expecting a baby in Sept. 2018, the eyes of the world have been on Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry. While millions wait for Baby Sussex, rumors continue to swirl about everything from the name and gender of the baby to whether or not Her Royal Highness will employ a doula.

Here’s what we know for sure: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting their first child sometime between the end of April and beginning of May. Their child will be seventh in line to the throne, just behind Prince Harry.

Their child will likely not be a prince or princess, but rather will be styled as either “Lord of Dumbar” for a boy or “Lady” for a girl.

We also know that the birth of Baby Sussex will be private. Buckingham Palace reported “Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. 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”

This means the public will not get to see the Duke and Duchess leaving the hospital with their newest bundle of joy in their arms. It’s believed that the Palace will announce when Markle is in labor and when the child is born. There will also likely be a picture opportunity a few days after Baby Sussex arrives.  

This announcement received mixed responses from the public. Some on social media argued that since the luxuries of royal life are paid for by tax dollars, the public has a right to be involved in all royal matters. Others praised the Duchess saying that it is her child and her choice.

The couple’s decision to not let the world be a part of this momentous event in their lives seems to break tradition. Fans of the royal family can recall the iconic images of Princess Diana leaving the Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital in London after the birth of both her sons. Three decades later, Kate Middleton and husband Prince William could be seen on the same steps just hours after all three of their children arrived.

This begs the question: if Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge did this, why isn’t Markle? For one thing, hospital births are actually not royal tradition. Princess Diana was the first to give birth in a hospital in 1982. She was also the first to give birth while totally awake. Before that, every royal was born at home, and most mothers were drugged with a host of medications, including morphine or chloroform.

Markle is also known for defying royal protocol and favoring her own way of doing things. From her choices of clothing brands to the color of her nail polish, she seems to ignore many of the family’s traditions in favor of her own tastes. It’s fitting she would do the same with the birth of her child.

Markle is also known to believe in natural remedies for health care. She has long been interested in yoga, and before her royal title she detailed her yoga routine in one interview. Markle and Harry were also spotted outside an apothecary in London in early April that boasts famous clients such as Natalie Portman and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Kate Middleton also received negative feedback about her decision to let the world see her children mere hours after their births. In the book “Feminist don’t wear Pink (and other lies)” actress Keira Knightley criticized the Duchess for not displaying the realities of childbirth.

“She was out of hospital seven hours later with her face made up and high heels on… Seven hours after your fight with life and death, seven hours after your body breaks open, and bloody, screaming life comes out. Don’t show. Don’t tell,” Knightly said.

Perhaps Meghan wants to be spared from this ordeal. Maybe her child, being seventh in line to the throne, will have to endure the same media scrutiny as the three Cambridge children. Maybe she just wants to keep doing things her way.

Though no one knows for sure what the birth of Baby Sussex will look like, one thing is certain: the world is waiting with eager anticipation.

The royal fall started with the Duchess of Cambridge returning to work from maternity leave Oct. 2. She has been taking a break from her public engagements since the birth of her third child, Prince Louis, on April 23.

The Duchess’s first engagement was at the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden in London and was a casual and outdoorsy event. The visit offered Kate a low-key return to her high profile life.

Next on the royal agenda was the wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie of York, who married Mr. Jack Brooksbank. The pair, who have dated for seven years, tied the knot Oct. 12 at Windsor Castle. The famous bride stunned everyone in a long-sleeved gown by British-based designers Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos for her wedding and a blush-colored flowing gown by Zac Posen for her reception.

The Princess requested her wedding dress have a low back to show off her scars from a surgery she underwent when she was 12 to correct her severe scoliosis, or curvature of her spine. HRH even invited some of the doctors who helped her to her fairytale wedding.

The flowing wedding dress and sparkling emerald tiara drew rave reviews across the world. This is a royal redemption as both Princess Eugenie and her older sister Princess Beatrice received harsh criticism for their over-the-top looks at Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.

Like all royal weddings, Eugenie and Jack’s big day was filled with beloved members of the royal family and A-list celebrities. Kate Middleton, Demi Moore and Cara Delevingne were consistently named as the best-dressed guests.

The royal family fever was turned up even more when, just three days after the royal wedding, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they are expecting a baby next spring.

The couple, who married last May, have been open about their desire for children. When asked about children in their post-engagement interview, Prince Harry responded, “Hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future.”

The parents-to-be received well wishes from all members of the royal family, with a spokesman for the queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Kate, and Meghan’s mother Doria all saying they are “delighted for the couple.”

The news came as an exciting start to a two-week long tour of Australia and New Zealand. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex even received their first baby present from their friends down under. At a welcoming ceremony at Admiralty House, they were given a stuffed kangaroo and baby Ugg boots.

Prince Harry and Meghan have a busy tour schedule centered around the opening of the Invictus Games, a foundation started by Prince Harry in 2013. The games are from combat veterans from all over the world to compete in sporting events. They serve as a way to begin the long process of healing and rebuilding after active duty.

Harry and Meghan’s first big tour will come to an end Nov. 1.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.