Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are expecting their second child, a representative for the couple said on Sunday.
Harry, 36, and Meghan, 39, stepped back from royal duties in January 2020 and moved with their first son Archie to southern California to live a more independent life and escape the British media.
"We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child", the representative said.
A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace on Sunday said Queen Elizabeth, her husband Prince Phillip, Harry's father Prince Charles and the whole family were "delighted" at the news and "wished them well".
The announcement was accompanied by a black and white photograph of a visibly pregnant Meghan lying on grass with one hand on her stomach and her head resting on the smiling prince's leg.
The photo was taken by long-time friend and photographer, Misan Harriman.
Mr Harriman took the image remotely from London using an iPad.
He wrote on Twitter: “Meg, I was there at your wedding to witness this love story begin, and my friend, I am honoured to capture it grow.
“Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Sussex on this joyous news!”
Mr Harriman is the first black male photographer to shoot a British Vogue cover – and the first to shoot its September issue – in its 105-year history.
A year before, the Duchess of Sussex guest edited the September issue, which is traditionally the fashion bible’s most important of the year.
Speaking to British Vogue following the baby announcement, Mr Harriman said: “To be asked to help share this absolute joy after such an unimaginable loss and heartache is a marker of true friendship.
“Meg reminded me that had I not introduced her to a mutual friend then she wouldn’t have met Harry.
“I’m grateful for whatever small part I played.”
Since ending their royal duties, Harry and Meghan have continued charity work and signed TV and other media deals, launching their debut podcast in December.
Last year, Meghan revealed she had a miscarriage in July, in an extraordinarily personal disclosure coming from a high-profile British royal.
The couple married in a glittering ceremony in 2018 that captured the world's attention.
But they later gave up their official royal roles after disagreements with other family members and because of huge media attention.
Their relationship with the British press swiftly soured and the couple have launched legal cases against several newspapers.
Last week Meghan won a privacy claim against the Mail on Sunday for printing extracts of a letter she wrote to her father.
The Queen's great grandchildren
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Prince George of Cambridge, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and third in the line of succession to the British throne. Born in July 2013. Getty Images -
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, the daughter of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and fourth in the line of succession to the British throne. Born in May 2015. Getty Images -
Prince Louis of Cambridge, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton, and fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. Born in April 2018. Getty Images -
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and seventh in the line of succession to the British throne. Born in May 2019. Getty Images -
Megan Markle and Prince Harry had their second child, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, in June this year. Reuters -
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have welcomed a baby boy, August Philip Hawke Brooksbank, in February 2021. AP Photo -
Savannah Phillips, the daughter of Peter Phillips and Autumn Phillips. Born in December 2010. Getty Images -
Isla Phillips, left - seen here with her sister Savannah Phillips, the daughter of Peter Phillips and Autumn Phillips. Born in March 2012. Getty Images -
Mia Grace Tindall, the daughter of Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall. Born in January 2014. Getty Images -
Lena Elizabeth Tindall, the daughter of Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall. Born in June 2018. Getty Images
