Meghan Markle has broken all of these royal pregnancy traditions, including travelling abroad and throwing a £300k baby shower
The Duchess of Sussex is expecting her first baby with Prince Harry any day now
MEGHAN Markle could give birth any day now after she let slip her due date was in April.
And, as the Duchess and Prince Harry get ready to welcome their new arrival, speculation swirls over the gender, name and where the 37-year-old will give birth.
But while most expectant mums while away the hours watching box-sets and eating whatever takes their fancy, the former Suits actress may be using her time to swot up on royal protocol.
In the past strict guidelines have governed what expectant royal mothers should or shouldn't do, and if there anything to go by it seems the Meghan has broken a fair few traditions...
Royal mums-to-be don't have baby showers
Meghan not only held a baby shower, but threw an extravagant £300,000 party at one of New York's most expensive hotels.
Far from keeping her shower under wraps - amid reports Kate Middleton had a small, private one ahead of Prince George's birth - Hollywood A-lister's descended in force for Meghan's shower.
The five-day affair, in her native America, saw lavish gifts and decorations arriving as Meghan partied with her celeb pals, including Serena Williams and Jessica Mulroney.
And when it was all over, the mum-to-be hopped on Amal Clooney's private jet home.
Royal expert, Victoria Arbiter, previously said baby showers were virtually unheard of for royals.
She said it's because they're: "Very wealthy... a lavish baby shower would be seen as highly inappropriate. There's nothing they can't go out and buy themselves".
The gender is top secret
While the gender has yet to be revealed, there are rumours the couple already know the sex of their baby.
Meghan's flashy baby shower may have given the game away, with colour-themed decorations arriving.
Some gifts which raised a few eyebrows were dozens of pink roses and a candy floss machine.
Travelling abroad is frowned upon
Meghan's showy baby shower may have broken three rules in total, with her trip to NYC not advised for pregnant ladies.
According to reports, royal women who are expecting should keep travelling abroad to a bare minimum.
Meghan flagrantly flouted this rule, with the news of her pregnancy breaking while she was in Australia on a royal tour.
While her New York trip may have been for pleasure, Meghan and Prince Harry also made an official trip to Morocco in February, just weeks away from her due date.
Meghan isn't the only royal to overlook this rule, as Kate Middleton travelled to Norway when pregnant with Prince Louis.
Giving birth at home
Traditionally, royal women gave birth at home, which is where the Queen had all of her four children.
But as times changed, Princess Anne trail blazed her way to the hospital, and was followed by Princess Diana and The Duchess of Cambridge.
Both Kate and Diana gave birth at the private Lindo Wing in St Mary's - something which become a tradition in itself for royal ladies - but it's thought Meghan will shun this as well.
Far from giving birth at home or at the Lindo Wing, it's been claimed Meghan has her sights set on Frimley Park hospital, in Surrey, to have her baby.
Telling the Queen
After Baby Sussex makes their arrival, it's Prince Harry's job to immediately inform the Queen.
According to tradition, the 34-year-old must phone his grandmother to tell her the news - before anyone else - and reveal if it's a boy or a girl.
While Meghan and Harry haven't broken that rule yet, it's rumoured her mum, Doria Ragland, will be flying to the UK in the coming days to help out with her grandchild.
The yoga instructor, 62, could even be in the room with Meghan as the pair are so close, meaning the Queen might not be the first person other than the parents to know the gender.
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