GLOWING and gorgeous, Meghan looked pleased as punch yesterday to be showing off her newborn son in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
Mums up and down the country would doubtless have been cooing over the pictures of adorable Archie — and also inwardly cheering with glee that Meghan made no attempt to hide her post-birth baby bump.
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The royal baby has been named Archie by the proud parentsIf anything, the confident Duchess seemed determined to proudly showcase the postpartum mum-tum — with which legions of women will be familiar — by placing her hands on her tummy as she spoke. It was with purpose that Meghan fastened the belt of her bespoke, button-through dress just above her bump as if to accentuate, not hide it.
Admittedly, the £1,650 cream ensemble — created for Meghan by British designer and activist Grace Wales Bonner from a dress in her range — wasn’t trackie-bottoms-with-elasticated-waistband ordinary.
But with an army of stylists and designers at her disposal, Meghan easily could have used all manner of clever tricks to distract the eye from her middle. But she flatly chose not to. And good for her.
We have become accustomed to snaps of models and celebrities skipping about weeks after giving birth sporting washboard abs.
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PA:Press Association
PA:Press Association
So it comes almost as a shock to see a mega-famous woman celebrating rather than concealing the superhuman feat that her body has just performed. After all, Meghan has just produced a whole other person — and a royal one at that.
The fact that she seems comfortable and relaxed in her own skin after doing so is refreshing.
Her sister-in-law Kate made a similar decision when she posed on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, West London, after the birth of her and Prince William’s first baby.
Her blue and white polka-dot dress also showed the lingering baby bump that was still evident.
Gazing at the swaddled, white bundle snuggled in her husband’s arms, Meghan wore the typical, adoring, slightly-dazed expression of a first-time mother — her face fuller than usual from pregnancy.
Meghan’s hair was not stiffly coiffed but hung softly and naturally around her shoulders.
In fairness, most new mothers probably would not have chosen to wear a pristine cream ensemble for their first post-birth public outing.
Perhaps Meghan wanted to convey the sense of purity and innocence of a new baby.
AP:Associated Press
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Or perhaps she just wanted to give the colour a last outing before a lifetime of spills and sticky fingers begins in earnest.
You also wouldn’t catch many new mums dashing out for a pack of nappies in a pair of four-inch Manolo Blahniks, which cost £495.
But it seems even motherhood cannot separate glamour puss Meghan from her much-loved heels, even if she was walking a little more gingerly than usual. And if a pair of skyscraper shoes helps give her the confidence to face the world, then all power to her.
Meghan teamed her understated look with a delicate gold and turquoise necklace from jewellery label Jennifer Meyer, worth £576.
As she lovingly stroked her son’s head, we glimpsed her nails. Perfectly manicured but short and practical and painted in the neutral blush expected of royal women.
But the feminist former actress was always determined she wouldn’t be posing on hospital steps hours after giving birth — for anyone.
She reportedly didn’t want to set that example for other women.
Meghan always looks amazing, just as she did yesterday. But the photocall suggested the very new mum has a realistic grasp of the toll pregnancy and birth takes.
Let’s hope Meghan is gentle with herself in the coming weeks and allows herself lots of time to veg out on the sofa with baby Archie before dashing back to the gym regime.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex gushed over their ‘amazing’ royal baby boy, who they have named Archie
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PA:Press Association
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AP:Associated Press
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Chris Allerton/@Sussex royal
Chris Allerton/@Sussex royal
