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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's royal baby will be a 'uniquely diverse' addition to royal brood

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's first child will be a "uniquely diverse" addition to the British royal family's growing brood, a royal expert has said.

He or she will be seventh in line to the throne, coming after father Prince Harry and first cousins Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, three and Prince Louis, five months.

Kensington Palace announced the news just hours after the couple touched down in Sydney, Australia, for their first major international tour since their wedding in May.

The Suits actress, 37, and husband Prince Harry, 34, are said to have told the Queen and the rest of the royal family at Princess Eugenie’s wedding last week.

Baby Sussex will have two homes, Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace – where he or she can play in the spacious grounds with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s children – and a hideaway in the Cotswolds.

The little one, who will be the Queen’s eighth great-grandchild, may be expected to become familiar with Meghan’s furry friends – dogs Guy and Oz.

Newest additions to the growing royal brood include Prince Louis, William and Kate's third child born in April, and Zara and Mike Tindall’s second daughter, Lena, born in June.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said Meghan and Harry’s baby will be a “uniquely diverse” addition to the royal family.

He told the Standard: “The new baby will be seventh in line to the throne.

“This is such happy news, an announcement which is a prelude to a royal tour that shows monarchy is also theatre and their child will be a wonderful addition to the royal family, and uniquely diverse, featuring both royals and slaves in his or her background.

“The love between Harry and Meghan is very real and their chemistry together works wonders.

Royal commentators expect Meghan and Harry's baby to grow closest to the Cambridges' (AFP/Getty Images)
Royal commentators expect Meghan and Harry's baby to grow closest to the Cambridges' (AFP/Getty Images)

“We knew they wanted to start a family though not immediately, now we have some wonderful news to make this a truly amazing royal year.”

Prince Harry previously admitted he “longed for kids”, and royal commentator Phil Dampier believes the little one will grow closest to the Cambridges’.

Bridesmaids and pageboys at Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding (Getty Images)
Bridesmaids and pageboys at Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding (Getty Images)

He said: “He or she will have lots of cousins to play with and show the ropes. I'm sure will grow up close to Will and Kate's children.”

Mr Dampier added that the new addition will bring “fresh interest” into the monarchy.

“As always a new baby brings fresh interest in the monarchy and boy or girl, the child will be seventh in line to the throne,” he added.

The baby will be the couple’s first, despite the Duchess of Sussex’s previous two-year marriage to producer Trevor Engelson.

The couple began dating in the summer of 2016 and married at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle in May this year, the same venue in which Princess Eugenie tied the knot to Jack Brooksbank in on Friday.