Meghan Markle's Due Date May Be Sooner Than We Thought, According to the Duchess Herself

Face, Hair, Eyebrow, Facial expression, Lip, Nose, Smile, Beauty, Head, Hairstyle, — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Officially, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will welcome their baby in "spring 2018," per their announcement in October. But we may have just gotten some real clarity on exactly when. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex haven't commented officially, of course. But the actor-turned-princess may have let on more than she intended after Christmas services at Sandringham, when she and her husband mingled with fans outside the estate who'd been waiting to catch a glimpse of her. According to E! News, when one passerby, Karen Anvil, expressed well wishes, Meghan responded, "We are excited. We're nearly there."

Anvil added, "When I asked her about the baby, she changed totally. She was glowing and instinctively went for her stomach. It was lovely."

That news is interesting. We're still a ways away from spring, last I checked, but the baby might be here sooner than I expected. No complaints, of course. After the glorious pictures from the royal wedding, a picture of a chubby-cheeked baby (with the proud parents gazing down adoringly) sounds pretty perfect. The speculation—and royal baby watch—officially begins now!

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According to an exclusive in the Daily Mail, Meghan attended the Boxing Day royal festivities with Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, as well as other members of the royal family. Meghan arrived after her husband had gone shooting—apparently, she's a big animal lover.

Apparently there's been a royal bug going around too (which probably accounted for Prince Philip and Camilla Parker Bowles being missing during the Christmas mass celebrations), but that didn't stop the 92-years-young Queen and her family from doing traditional Boxing Day activities. This is Meghan's first Boxing Day as a married woman, and the last she and Prince Harry will spend as a family of two.

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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.

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