Royals

Royal baby mania hits fever pitch as Prince Harry delays trip to the Netherlands

May 04, 2019

As the world awaits the arrival of Harry and Meghan's first child, royal reporters stress the decision has been attributed to logistical challenges. Source: Getty

Prince Harry has postponed his upcoming trip to the Netherlands, as the world awaits the arrival of Baby Sussex. However, the 34-year-old is still headed overseas next week for the Invictus Games.

The Duke of Sussex was originally meant to visit the country for two days from next Wednesday, but will now fly in and out on Thursday. The decision has been attributed to logistical challenges.

“Due to the logistical planning for the traveling press to cover visits and engagements by The Royal Family, we have taken the decision to postpone The Duke of Sussex’s scheduled visit to Amsterdam on Wednesday 8th May 2019,” a spokesperson for the Sussexes said in a statement, according to The Telegraph.

“The Duke is currently scheduled to travel to The Hague on Thursday 9th May for the launch of the Invictus Games The Hague 2020 as planned.”

While Harry and Meghan have confirmed they will be staying out out of the media spotlight when their baby arrives, preferring to keep certain details of their first child private until after they have settled in together, rumours are rife about the newest member of royalty.

Although the royal family has not revealed the gender of the baby, with Harry and Meghan said to be keeping it a surprise, a new and slightly unusual name has worked its way up the list of potential options for the couple.

While the favourite traditional names such as Elizabeth, Arthur and of course Diana continue to lead the way there are now speculations that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have opted to forego other royal traditions throughout the pregnancy, could opt for something very different.

According to British betting company Ladbrokes the soon-to-be parents may choose the Italian name Allegra if it’s a girl.

The name is said to hold a special meaning for Harry as it was reportedly the name his mother Princess Diana was considering before she found out she was expecting boys.

Allegra, which means cheerful or lively, has made its way into the top 10 list, beating classics such as Albert and Victoria. As of Monday Allegra had odds of 12/1, placing it in sixth position, closely behind much more traditional options.

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace confirmed last month that the young royals will not follow in the footsteps of Prince William and Kate and pose for photos outside of the prestigious Lindo Wing, with Meghan said to favour the idea of having a home birth. So we may have to wait a while to find out what name they settle on for their bundle of joy.