The Duke and Duchess of Sussex nodded to tradition by wrapping their baby boy in a shawl from a royal-approved company for his first public appearance today.
Proud parents Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, swaddled their son in a £105 merino wool shawl and £65 hat by G.H. Hurt & Son for the photocall in St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle, this afternoon.
The move marks a continuation of some 70 years of royal tradition, with new parents including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge all choosing to swaddle their children in shawls from the company on their public debuts.
It is a small acknowledgement of the past in what has otherwise been a ‘big reveal’ that breaks from royal precedent.
Proud parents Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, swaddled their son in the £105 merino wool shawl by G.H. Hurt & Son for the photocall in St George’s Hall, Windsor Castle, this afternoon
The move marks a continuation of some 70 years of royal tradition, with new parents including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge choosing shawls by the brand for their children’s public debuts. Pictured, William and Kate with Charlotte wrapped in a G.H. Hurt & Son shawl in 2015
Prince Charles and Princess Diana swaddled Prince William in a shawl when they left the Lindo Wing in 1982, pictured
The shawl chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is the Leaves and Flowers Baby Shawl in ivory, although it also comes in pink and blue. Pictured, the shawl on the website
Speaking to Fabulous Digital, Richard Taylor, director of G.H. Hurt & Son, said: ‘All the staff here at G. H Hurt & Son were delighted to see the Royal couple emerge at Windsor Castle today, to present their newborn son, wrapped in our traditional hand finished shawl.
He continued: ‘We feel so proud and honoured that Harry and Meghan have chosen our beautiful merino wool lacy knitted baby shawls and in doing so have continued a royal tradition now going back over 70 years.’
The shawl is the Leaves and Flowers Baby Shawl in ivory, although it also comes in pink and blue.
The Queen first used the company when she introduced son Prince Charles to the world in 1948.
In the decades since, royals including Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have been draped in the designs as newborns.
Children’s clothing designer Joanna Welch, of the brand Small Stories, explained that the couple had kept to royal protocol by dressing the baby in traditional cream.
Children’s clothing designer Joanna Welch, of the brand Small Stories, suggested the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had taken fashion tips from other royals
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex with their baby son, who was born on Monday morning, during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle in Berkshire
She said: ‘The baby is wrapped in what looks like a super fine merino wool cream blanket very similar to the one Princess Kate wrapped all three of her royal children in.’
The clothing expert went on to suggest the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had taken fashion tips from other Royals.
‘Meghan and Harry have definitely taken fashion tips from Prince William and Princess Kate,’ she said. ‘They also dressed all three of their children in the same way for their first royal appearance.’
The couple appeared to be beside themselves with joy, giggling and looking into each other’s eyes as they spoke, while Harry could not resist sneaking a peek down at his son as he apparently slept
The loved-up couple waved to the camera before walking off as they prepare to introduce the infant to his great-grandmother, the Queen, later today
Speaking for only a few minutes from inside the majestic St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle, a radiant Meghan, who struggled to take her eyes off her beaming husband, said she had the ‘two best guys in the world’
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are pictured with their baby son in the majestic setting of St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle today
Speaking of the cosy cap the baby is wearing, she continued: ‘Meghan and Harry might also have opted for the super cosy knitted beanie to keep him slightly hidden from all those prying eyes and flashing cameras.’
‘Meghan has kept the Princes for first royal engagement outfit gender neutral which is super on trend right now.’
The baby’s cousins, Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three, and Prince Louis, one, regularly prompt a shopping frenzy when they are seen in a new outfit, and it is thought Baby Sussex might have the same effect on clothing sales.
New parents Meghan, 37, and Harry, 34, were the picture of pride as they appeared with their newborn son, who arrived early Monday morning.
It is the first time the Sussexes have been seen together as a family since the baby’s arrival after the Duke and Duchess took the decision to keep the birth private, rather than follow the lead of William and Kate and pose for photos in the hours afterwards.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge swaddled newborn Louis in a white blanket and cap when they appeared on the steps of the Lindo Wing hours after his birth in April last year
Adorable baby Charlotte was given the same introduction to the world in May 2015, pictured
Prince George was wrapped in a blanket but did not have a cap when he was first seen in 2013
Harry and Meghan have been enjoying the experience of being new parents at their Frogmore Cottage home near the Queen’s Windsor Castle residence.
Family members spoke about the joy of the new arrival with the Duke of Cambridge saying on Tuesday he was ‘obviously thrilled, absolutely thrilled, and obviously looking forward to seeing them in the next few days when things have quietened down’.
Harry was at his wife’s side during the birth on Monday and he later confessed he had only had a few hours’ sleep, suggesting Meghan had spent much of the night in labour.
Baby Sussex arrived at 5.26am on Monday, weighing 7lb 3oz.