Pregnant! Meghan Markle Is Expecting First Baby With Prince Harry (EXCLUSIVE)

The world was captivated when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement, but the royal couple has even bigger news — they’re pregnant! Prince Harry and Meghan have been very open about wanting to start a family, and it looks likes it is happening sooner than either of them expected.

A source reveals to In Touch that the surprise pregnancy is the main reason the pair decided to fast-track their wedding for Spring 2018. “Meghan is pregnant,” a source says. “Harry and Meghan have been very open about how they are desperate to have kids as soon as possible. But they didn’t expect it to happen so soon!”

However, the insider clarified, “This baby was very much wanted. It’s a dream come true for them.”

In their first post-engagement interview, the couple was asked if they were talking kids already — and Prince Harry was visibly nervous. “No, of course, you know, I think one step at a time and hopefully we’ll start a family in the near future,” he responded.

Meghan and Harry have been trying to keep their news a secret — but it hasn’t been easy. Meghan and Harry have been trying to keep their news a secret — but it hasn’t been easy. At their engagement photo call on Nov. 27 at Kensington Palace’s Sunken Garden, the Suits actress did everything she could to mask her growing bump. “Meghan wore very high heels and bare legs in order to try to distract from her tummy,” says the source, noting that Meghan has been has been dressing in loose-fitting clothes and steering clear of alcohol lately. But she may have let her secret slip: “A few days before their engagement announcement, she went to have a facial with British facialist Sarah Chapman,” says the source. “Meghan would have normally had a massage to relax, but you can’t have a massage in the first three months of pregnancy. So she opted for a facial instead!”

Most of the royal family is thrilled by the news. When Harry told his brother, William, 35, that Meghan was expecting, “he was very supportive,” says a second source, adding that their dad, Prince Charles, 69, was also “overjoyed” by the news. “William has always had a special bond with Harry and is very pleased Meghan came into his brother’s life.” But older members of the royal family and some longtime staffers weren’t less pleased. “It is unprecedented for a senior royal to have a pregnant partner before they’re married,” adds the source. “They are the modern face of the royals and are determined to do things their way and not be constrained by old-fashioned royal protocol.”

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Their entire romance has been unconventional. “We had to sort of reverse [the whole dating] process,” Harry says, explaining that instead of public date nights, he and Meghan were often forced to stay in to preserve their privacy. “Cozy nights…just the two of us by ourselves in our little cottage. It’s provided different opportunities and it’s made us a hell of a lot closer in a shorter space of time.” Adds Meghan: “We were able to really get to know each other.” It all culminated in a proposal that was the stuff of fairy tales. “We were just roasting chicken, and it was just an amazing surprise,” says Meghan. “It was so sweet and natural and very romantic — he got down on one knee.” Meghan couldn’t wait for him to finish. “I said, ‘Can I say yes now?’ ” she laughs. Harry adds: “There were hugs, and I had the ring in my finger — I was like, ‘Can I give you the ring?’ ”

Now that he’s found his princess, Harry can focus on his other longtime dream: becoming a dad. “I’ve longed for kids since I was very, very young,” Harry told ABC News in 2012. “I’m waiting to find the right person. Someone who is willing to take on the job.” In April, Harry reiterated that he’s ready for diaper duty, declaring on a U.K. podcast: “I would love to have kids.” He’s had plenty of practice. At home, Harry frequently drops by his brother’s place to play with his niece and nephew, Charlotte, 2, and George, 4, while Kate cooks dinner. “When they’re together, he enjoys reading to the kids and playing outdoors with them,” says the insider, adding that when Harry is away, he FaceTimes George and Charlotte on a regular basis.

As they gear up for the exciting year ahead, Harry can’t help but feel there is one thing missing: His late mother, Princess Diana. “It’s days like today when I really miss having her around and miss being able to share the happy news,” he said shortly after he announced his engagement to Meghan, adding that he believes his mother would have loved his bride-to-be. “I think she would be over the moon, you know, so excited for me. I’m sure she’s with us [in spirit] jumping up and down.”