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Another royal baby due in Britain, costs incurred on taxpayers

In this file photo taken on October 03, 2018 Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (R) and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) meet with young people on a visit to Joff Youth Centre in Peacehaven in East Sussex, southern England. (AFP photo)

The British royal family is to welcome another baby in the spring of 2019 amid reports that the birth would cost the taxpayers in Britain dearly.

The Kensington Palace said on Monday that Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, was pregnant and the couple were expecting their first child in the next year.

The British media reported that Markle, an American television presenter who married Harry just five months ago, was believed to be about 12 weeks pregnant.

Harry is the younger son of Prince Charles, the heir to British throne. He is 34 while Markle is 37. Their baby will be seventh in the line to the throne, currently held by Queen Elizabeth II. It is the Queen that will authorize the title of a prince or a princess for the baby.

“Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public,” said the Kensington Palace in a statement on Monday.

Harry and Markle landed in Australia’s Sydney on Monday for a 16-day tour that will take them to other countries in the region.

The news about the baby comes amid increasing dissatisfaction with the way the British royal family wastes the public money.

Reports said Markle’s pregnancy and eventual delivery will cost the taxpayers of England around two million American dollars.

There have been repeated attempts by anti-monarchy campaigners to stop the waste of money by the British royal family. Tens of thousands signed a petition before Harry and Markle's wedding in May, urging the government to prevent taxpayers’ money being used to fund the event.

The event reportedly cost nearly $50 million with reports suggesting most of it was funded by the taxpayers.

Taxpayers also paid for a recent royal wedding involving Princess Eugenie, the younger daughter of Prince Andrew, who is the Queen’s second son. Estimates suggested that the ceremony held at Windsor Castle last Friday reportedly cost six million British pounds.


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