It was the news heard round the world: the Duchess of Sussex is expecting a child, due early next Spring. It has been an especially eventful year for the royal family; two weddings, two babies, and one more on the way! In light of this recent announcement, we’ve decided to revisit the arrival of each new royal baby born in the past year.

Prince Louis of Cambridge

On 23 April 2018, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their third child into the world: Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, who joins older siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. He is the son of Prince William, grandson of Prince Charles, and great-grandson of Queen Elizabeth. Prince Louis is fifth in the line of succession to the British throne. On 9 July 2018, he was baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace, using water from the River Jordan according to tradition. He wore a replica of the original christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s first child in 1841. It was created in 2008 and has been used for every royal christening since. His godparents include Nicholas van Cutsem, Guy Pelly, Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lady Maura Meade, Hannah Gillingham Carter, and Lucy Middleton, who is a cousin of the Duchess of Cambridge.

Lena Tindall

On 18 June 2018, Mike and Zara Tindall welcomed their second daughter into the world: Lena (pronounced Lay-na) Elizabeth Tindall, who joins big sister Mia Grace. She is the granddaughter of Princess Anne, through Zara Tindall, and the great-granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth. Lena Tindall is nineteenth in the line of succession to the British throne. Unlike her more famous cousins, she does not have a royal title, as her father, Mike Tindall, has no title, and her mother, Zara, having been born down the female line as the offspring of the daughter of a sovereign, is not entitled to be an HRH. She has yet to have been christened, but one can assume that plans have been made to do so. Her birth was especially joyous for her parents, as two previous pregnancies had ended in miscarriage.

Baby Boy Matthews

Even though Pippa Matthews, née Middleton, isn’t a member of the royal family, she is the younger sister of a future Queen Consort and the wife of the future Laird of Glen Affric. Rightly so, we’ve decided to include her newborn son as a part of the royal baby boom. On 15 October 2018, James and Pippa Matthews welcomed their first child into the world. As of now, his name has yet to be revealed. Their son’s birth comes weeks after James’ younger brother, Spencer Matthews, and his wife, Vogue Williams, welcomed their own son, Theodore, in early September.

Future Child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

On 15 October 2018, the Duke and Duchess announced, through Kensington Palace, that they are expecting their first child, due early next Spring. This announcement comes on the heels of Princess Eugenie’s wedding, which was celebrated only three days prior. Upon the birth of their child, it will become seventh in the line of succession to the British throne, bumping those who follow down one space. If the child is a boy, he will be styled as the Earl of Dumbarton, one of Prince Harry’s lesser titles, and if the child is a girl, she will be styled as Lady (First Name) Mountbatten-Windsor. Any younger sons will be styled Lord (First Name) Mountbatten-Windsor.

Bonus:

Even though this article focuses on the British family, we’ve decided to include that of the only other royal birth of the year; this being Princess Adrienne of Sweden.

Princess Adrienne of Sweden

On 9 March 2018, Christopher O’Neill and Princess Madeleine of Sweden welcomed their third child into the world: Princess Adrienne Josephine Alice Bernadotte of Sweden, Duchess of Blekinge, who joins older siblings, Princess Leonore and Prince Nicolas. She is the daughter of Princess Madeleine, and the granddaughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. Princess Adrienne is tenth in the line of succession to the Swedish throne. On 8 June 2018, she was christened in the Royal Chapel at Drottningholm Palace, exactly four years after her sister was christened there. Her godparents include Anouska d’Abo, Coralie Charriol Paul, Nader Panahpour, Gustav Thott, Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund and Natalie Werner.