Duchess of Sussex joined by celebrity friends for baby shower during 'private' New York visit

The Duchess of Sussex's celebrity friends have thrown her a baby shower in New York, as the mother-to-be made a surprise public appearance at a five-star hotel in front of the world’s cameras.

The Duchess, wearing sunglasses, a black outfit and high heels, cradled her bump as she left The Mark Hotel with an actress friend by her side.

Her baby, who will be seventh-in-line to the throne, was later celebrated with a party for 15 to 20 friends, with lavish flowers and gifts being taken in to the hotel.

While her husband the Duke of Sussex, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall each undertook official royal engagements back the UK, the Duchess enjoyed herself on a “private” five-day trip to see friends in New York.

The Duchess is understood to have travelled to New York without aides from her private office or press office, joined by protection officers as she spent time with confidantes from her former life in showbusiness.

But, after sources close to the Duchess made details of her visit available to American celebrity magazines, that low-key visit became public.

Tip-offs published by Harper’s Bazaar, the New York Post’s Page Six and People magazine disclosed that a baby shower would be thrown by friends including Jessica Mulroney, whose three children were included in the royal wedding party in May.

Media pens were erected outside The Mark Hotel on the Upper East Side, with photographers and curious members of the public gathering to watch.

Through the morning, florists were seen dropping off buckets of flowers including pink roses, while a flat pack baby cot was delivered.

Abigail Spencer, the actress who appeared alongside the Duchess in legal drama Suits, was then photographed walking through the front door, immediately recognisable despite a beanie hat and dark glasses.

Not long afterwards, the Duchess herself emerged from the front entrance of the hotel with security by her side.

Wearing elegant fresh make-up and immaculate hair, she placed the left hand bearing her engagement ring on her stomach as the bulbs of the waiting cameras flashed and she climbed into a dark SUV car.

The vehicle, which appeared to bear US government plates, drove the Duchess two roads along to cafe at the Met Breuer, the contemporary art museum, before arriving at The Surrey, another hotel just one block away from The Mark.

The baby shower was expected to continue through the day, with the arrival of celebrities and friends.

The unexpectedly public event came at the end of a private five day trip, in which the Duchess had gone incognito to enjoy tea and macarons in her favourite bakery, Ladurée in Soho, New York, with her stylist friend Mulroney.

She was also spotted shopping at Bonpoint, the children’s clothes store which is already a royal favourite with the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Sussexes have both travelled extensively in Britain and overseas during their early relationship and marriage, with no photographs of their honeymoon, holidays or visiting friends known to have been published.

The Duke, who remained in the UK, did not mention his wife publicly during his working visit to a “Fit and Fed” youth scheme in Streatham, in which he spoke of how “vital” community hubs were to young people in the face of the “isolation” of social media.

The Prince of Wales, meanwhile, presented campaign medals to soldiers returning from Afghanistan, while the Duchess of Cornwall celebrated sustainable British design at London Fashion Week.

This weekend, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will travel to Morocco at the request of the Foreign Office for a two-day tour.

The Duchess is reported to be having a second baby shower thrown by her British friends upon her return, before her due date at the end of April.