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MEGHAN Markle and Prince Harry's mixed-race royal baby has been welcomed as a symbol for modern Britain.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's baby boy - born yesterday at 5.26am and weighing in at 7lb 3oz - was today praised for representing the "millions of families" in the UK who are mixed race.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first baby together yesterday - a little boy
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed their first baby together yesterday - a little boyCredit: Reuters

Tessy Ojo, the CEO of The Diana Award - a charity legacy to Prince Harry's mum - this morning pointed out thousands of children would be able to see someone "just like them" in the Royal Family.

Speaking on Good Morning Britain, she said: "There are millions of families across the UK who have mixed heritage.

"Again, like their marriage, this is representing what modern Britain looks like.

"For many kids growing up - in a few years' time, seeing someone just like you as a member of the royal family is incredible."

Meghan, 37, went into labour late on Sunday night and gave birth at London's Portland Hospital at 5.26am, with Harry, 34, by her side.

It comes despite the former actress' hopes to have a home birth at the couple's newly renovated home of Frogmore Cottage.

New dad Prince Harry yesterday gushed over the "most amazing" experience as he announced the arrival of his son.

The child is the first mixed-race baby in the Royal Family.

And as the nation waits for the couple to show off the new arrival on Wednesday and announce the name, thousands have flooded them with best wishes.

Trevor Phillips, a Brit writer and broadcaster, was also among those to herald the arrival of Baby Sussex as news that can "make us all proud".


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Writing a letter to the newborn for , he said: "When I was born, a mixed-race child like you was a rare and often shameful secret, all too frequently put up for adoption by horrified grandparents.

"But by the time you are ready to attend senior school, half of us with a Caribbean slave ancestor are more likely than not to also have a white parent or grandparent. There will be more black Britons like you than like me.

"You are the fruit of a joyous, contemporary love match."

Meanwhile British television presenter Ore Oduba took to social media to share his excitement at the royal baby news.

He wrote: "A mixed race baby boy, born 7 lbs 3oz... and we call ours KING (we are his loyal subjects 😂) ..could there BE any more similarities with the new Royal baby!???

"SO happy for @sussexroyal congratulations Harry and Meghan... what a special person they’ve brought into the world".

Another royal fan added: "We have a mixed race royal baby!!!!!!"

JUNE SARPONG Birth of Meghan Markle’s Baby Sussex is an historic event for diversity in Britain

THE arrival of a new royal baby is always a historic moment.

But the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first child — the first mixed race member of the immediate royal family — is a particularly significant moment for Britain.

The announcement of Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle, an American with a black mother and white father, helped to ignite conversations that need to happen in Britain about race.

Harry and Meghan’s union became a national symbol of the mixed race relationships which are now so commonplace in modern Britain.

The announcement of Prince Harry’s engagement to Meghan Markle, an American with a black mother and white father, helped to ignite conversations that need to happen in Britain about race.

Harry and Meghan’s union became a national symbol of the mixed race relationships which are now so commonplace in modern Britain.

Here is a child who has such an interesting ethnic makeup, whose great-grandmother is the Queen but also has ancestry which stretches back to US cotton slaves.

What a wonderful moment of healing for a painful past. And what a great thing it will be for a mixed race British child, or child of colour, to see a little royal who looks like them.

Nowadays we are having so many more conversations around race, diversity, inclusion and integration than when I was growing up in Walthamstow, North East London, the child of Ghanaian parents.

By the time the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reach their tenth wedding anniversary in 2028 there could be more people living in Britain of Caribbean heritage with a white parent or grandparent than those who do not.

The Royal Family are at the apex of British family life but until now they weren’t reflective of the make-up of modern Britain.

It is a credit to Princess Diana and Prince Charles as parents that both their boys married outside of their expected aristocratic circle. Both boys changed the game in one fell swoop.

William married middle-class Kate Middleton and Harry married someone of a different race. It is how the world should be.

I spend a lot of time in America and, even though there is a huge amount of diversity, the country feels less integrated than in Britain.

Different ethnic groups feel far more segregated. This is something Britain can teach the rest of the world. Inter-racial relationships and mixed race children help break down barriers.

It is hard to see someone as “other” when they are a part of your family. And what higher profile family could there be than the royals?



Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's baby boy ever be king?

Meghan herself has previously spoken out about growing up "with a foot on both sides of the fence".

She said: "I was too young at the time to know what it was like for my parents, but I can tell you what it was like for me – how they crafted the world around me to make me feel like I wasn't different, but special."

And she praised how her own dad, Thomas Markle Snr, had helped her as a child.

She said: "When I was about seven I had been fawning over a boxed set of Barbie dolls. It was called the Heart Family and included a mum doll, a dad doll and two children.

"This perfect nuclear family was sold in sets of white dolls or black dolls.

"I don't remember coveting one over the other, I just wanted one. On Christmas morning, there I found my Heart Family – a black mum doll, a white dad doll and a child in each colour.

"My dad had taken the sets apart and customised the family."

For many kids growing up - in a few years' time, seeing someone just like you as a member of the royal family is incredible

Tessy OjoCEO of the Diana Award

She said she had also been left stumped when filling out a mandatory census when she was about 12 years old and had to tick white, black, Hispanic or Asian.

The actress, who rose to fame for her role as Rachel in Suits, said: "There I was – my curly hair, my freckled face, my pale skin, my mixed-race, looking down at these boxes, not wanting to mess up, but not knowing what to do.

"You could only choose one, but that would be to choose one parent over the other – and one half of myself over the other.

"My teacher told me to check the box for Caucasian. 'Because that's how you look, Meghan,' she said. I put down my pen.

"Not as an act of defiance, but rather a symptom of my confusion. I couldn't bring myself to do that – to picture the pit-in-her-belly sadness my mother would feel if she were to find out.

"So I didn't tick a box. I left my identity blank – a question mark, an absolute incomplete – much like how I felt."

If you can't wait to catch a glimpse of Baby Sussex, you can check out a forensic imaging specialist's prediction of what the little boy will look like. 

Joe Mullins studied recent photos of both Harry and Meghan to predict the facial features of their offspring.

Mullins sketches the age progression of children with great accuracy and uses his skills to help police solve crimes and trace missing kids.

Tessy Ojo, the CEO of The Diana Award - a charity legacy to Prince Harry's mum - this morning spoke of her joy at Meghan and Harry's baby news
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Tessy Ojo, the CEO of The Diana Award - a charity legacy to Prince Harry's mum - this morning spoke of her joy at Meghan and Harry's baby newsCredit: ITV
Royal fans were keen to welcome the new arrival, who symbolises modern Britain
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Royal fans were keen to welcome the new arrival, who symbolises modern BritainCredit: Twitter/blrshepherd
British television presenter Ore Oduba said it was some of the best Bank Holiday news
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British television presenter Ore Oduba said it was some of the best Bank Holiday newsCredit: instagram/oreodubaofficial
The baby's arrival has been met with excitement across the world
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The baby's arrival has been met with excitement across the worldCredit: Twitter/JaneParshally
Doria Ragland was by her daughter's side for the arrival of Baby Sussex
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Doria Ragland was by her daughter's side for the arrival of Baby SussexCredit: Getty - Pool
Meghan Markle has previously spoken of the battles she has faced from society
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Meghan Markle has previously spoken of the battles she has faced from societyCredit: Getty - Contributor
The couple are expected to show off their baby on Wednesday
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The couple are expected to show off their baby on WednesdayCredit: Getty - Contributor
Prince Harry excitedly announced the news he was a father yesterday
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Prince Harry excitedly announced the news he was a father yesterdayCredit: PA:Press Association
Baby Sussex is yet to be named - with odds on Albert and Philip
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Baby Sussex is yet to be named - with odds on Albert and PhilipCredit: Getty Images - Getty
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Inside the hospital where Meghan Markle gave birth which will set you back £30,000 for maternity care


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