Everything you need to know about Meghan Markle's baby shower

The Duchess of Sussex celebrated the impending arrival of her first child with friends in New York this week

Amal Clooney exits the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the Mark Hotel in New York on February 20, 2019. Reuters

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, exits The Mark Hotel following her baby shower in on February 20, 2019. Reuters

Amal Clooney leaves the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at The Mark Hotel, on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

Fashion designer Misha Nonoo arrives for the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the Mark Hotel on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

Stylist Jessica Mulroney arrives for the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at the Mark Hotel on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

TV host Gayle King arrives for the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at The Mark Hotel on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

Amal Clooney arrives for the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at The Mark Hotel on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

Actress Abigail Spencer arrives for the baby shower for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at The Mark Hotel on February 20, 2019, in New York. AP

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrives in New York on February 19, 2019. Reuters

She bid her native United States of America farewell when she became engaged to Britain's Prince Harry in 2017, moving to London ahead of her May 2018 nuptials.

But Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has returned to her homeland this week, to fete the arrival of her first child.

The royal, who is expecting a baby in the spring, celebrated the news with a baby shower, attended by her closest friends.

The occasion was held at The Mark Hotel in New York City on Wednesday, February 20, several days after Meghan is believed to have made the trans-Atlantic flight.

The venue

The royal, who is seven months pregnant, was joined by a selection of her staunchest pals at the five-star hotel, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

The bash is believed to have been hosted by tennis ace Serena Williams and human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, both of whom attended the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding last year.

Beirut-born Clooney, who shares one-year-old twins with her actor and producer husband George, was pictured arriving at the event, in a belted red jumpsuit and metallic gold heels, clutching a coat around her shoulders as a flurry of snow began to fall.

The star-studded shower was held in The Mark's penthouse suite, according to numerous reports, with the Daily Mail capturing a picture of dozens of pink roses being carried into the venue. Perhaps a daughter is on the cards for Prince Harry and Meghan, who revealed last month their baby is due "around April"?

The exclusive guest list

The penthouse suite might spread over 10,000 square feet, but the invites for the shower were kept rather exclusive.

Clooney and Williams aside, several of Meghan's friends were spotted making their way into the hotel, including CBS This Morning co-anchor Gayle King (aka, best friend to Oprah Winfrey).

Bahrain-born fashion designer Misha Nonoo - who is believed to have first introduced Prince Harry and Meghan - was also in attendance, as was the royal's former co-star on TV show Suits, Abigail Spencer. Stylist Jessica Mulroney, one of Meghan's closest friends, was also pictured making an entrance into The Mark, as was make-up artist Daniel Martin.

Not spotted at the venue was Meghan's mother Doria Ragland, who lives in Los Angeles, or actress Priyanka Chopra, who is believed to have been working in California.

Meghan was also not joined by her husband, who had an engagement with Royal Marines in Plymouth on Wednesday. Her trip to New York marks the newlywed's first public visit back to the US since tying the knot on May 19, 2018. Following the shower, Meghan was pictured leaving the hotel in sportswear and a camel coat, ahead of her flight back to the UK.

Prince Harry and Meghan have another overseas visit in the calendar before the birth of their first child. The couple will make a three-day trip to Morocco, between Saturday, February 23 and Monday, February 25, though their itinerary for the short stay has not yet been released.