Meghan Markle hid baby bump for weeks with specially choreographed appearances online

Meghan Markle hid her growing baby bump for weeks with specially choreographed appearances online where she was always seen from the chest up.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have announced they are expecting their second child saying "Archie is going to be a big brother".

The couple shared a black and white picture of themselves, sat under a tree thought to be at their Californian home, with Prince Harry resting his hand on wife Meghan Markle's head as she lay in his lap cradling her bump.

The photo was taken by longtime friend and photographer Misan Harriman.

A spokesperson for the couple said: "We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child."

The baby will be the younger sibling to the couple's son Archie Harrison, who will turn two on May 6.

It is not known when Meghan is due, though the photo shows a well-developed bump.

Her latest online appearance saw her and Harry drop in on a poetry class on a video call last week - though the carefully framed stream didn't give anything away.

The Get Lit Zoom call had the couple close up in front of their rustic fireplace, with the duchess wearing a buttoned light-blue shirt.

The news comes just months after Meghan, 39, disclosed she had suffered a miscarriage in July of last year.

The Duchess spoke candidly about the "unbearable grief" she endured in a piece written for The New York Times.

She recalled feeling a sharp pain in her stomach as she changed Archie nappy, writing, "I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second."

Meghan acknowledged many women experience a pregnancy loss at some point in their life, but few discuss the grief it brings.

She added: "The conversation remains taboo, riddled with (unwarranted) shame, and perpetuating a cycle of solitary mourning."

Meghan, Harry and their 21-month-old son have been social distancing at their multi-million-pound mansion in Santa Barbara, California.

Meghan and Harry officially stepped down from their roles as senior royals last year.

Their desire to have a normal family life played a role in their decision.

A palace source said by the time of Archie's birth, "they knew they were going to hit the nuclear button" on their royal exit.

When Archie was born, the couple's focus shifted, even more, to "doing what's right for their family," added another friend.

Last year, the Sussex's opened up about enjoying their time as parents in their new home.

Speaking to the Editor-in-Chief of US TIME magazine, Edward Felsenthal, former actress Meghan said: "For us, we're trying to embrace all of the quality time we get with our son right now and to not miss a single moment of his growth and development, which has been really special."

Back in July 2019, Harry hinted he and Meghan wanted to have another baby.

In an interview with British Vogue, - the same issue  his wife guest-edited -  he talked about climate change and preserving the planet to children.

"It does make it different," he said.

"I think, weirdly, because of the people that I've met and the places that I've been fortunate enough to go to, I've always had a connection and a love for nature. I view it differently now, without question. But I've always wanted to try and ensure that, even before having a child and hoping to have children..."

Interviewer Dr Jane Goodall interrupted, "Not too many."

Harry responded: "Two, maximum. But I've always thought, this place is borrowed. And, surely, being as intelligent as we all are, or as evolved as we all are supposed to be, we should be able to leave something better behind for the next generation."

Yesterday's Valentine's Day announcement came less than a week after the Duchess won her privacy battle after the High Court ruled the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online violated her right to privacy.

She sued after the paper after it published extracts of a personal letter she wrote to her father after she married Prince Harry.

The confirmation of her pregnancy came after the case, which if it had gone to trial, was announced in October to be delayed by nine months on "a confidential ground".

If Meghan was pregnant at the time, it would mean she is four months gone.

Last night bookies installed Alfie and Alexandra as the frontrunners for names.

Ladbrokes revealed the early names in Alfie and Alexandra leading the way at 4/1 apiece, with Charles/Charlie and Florence both 5/1 shots.

Elsewhere, 6/1 says they call their second-born Freddie or Arabella, with Doria a less likely shot at 12/1 and Diana 10/1 in the betting.

In October 2018, Meghan announced she would be a first-time mother, with their son Archie arriving amid secrecy in May 2019.

At the time, Harry gushed, "It's been the most amazing experience I can ever possibly imagine. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension, but we're both absolutely thrilled and so grateful for all the love and support from everybody out there. It's been amazing, so we just wanted to share this with everybody."

Meghan and Harry aren't the only royals to expand their family.

Last week Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, welcomed her first child, a baby boy with her husband Jack Brooksbank on February 9.

"Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie was safely delivered of a son... at 0855hrs at The Portland Hospital," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

"Jack Brooksbank was present. The baby weighs 3.6kg (8lbs 1oz)."