Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been criticised for making pregnancy announcement on Baby Loss Awareness Week

'Could you not have waited until tomorrow?’

prince harry meghan markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were set to become parents for the first time on the last day of Baby Loss Awareness Week and grieving parents have said it’s insensitive.

After months of speculation that they would start a family almost immediately after tying the knot in May, Harry and Meghan finally confirmed the rumours that they were expecting their first child together yesterday (15 October).

Reactions to the news of another royal baby have been overwhelmingly positive and the couple have received an even warmer reception in Australia, as part of the first leg of their royal tour.

However, some grieving parents have called the royal couple out as insensitive as 15 October is the final day of Baby Loss Awareness Week and is International Pregnancy And Infant Remembrance Day.

prince harry meghan markle baby

Matt Baron/REX/Shutterstock

Despite official health warnings Harry and Meghan are not cutting their royal tour short 

The aim of the week and day is to raise awareness for how traumatic the loss of a baby is and to mark the lives of those lost.

People shared their disappointment with the timing of Harry and Meghan's announcement on Twitter, with one person writing: ‘I am very happy for Meghan and Harry but believe it to be incredibly insensitive to announce the pregnancy today on an International Pregnancy and Baby Loss awareness day. Do you not check these things?!? Could you not have waited until tomorrow?’

Another said: ‘Disgusted they couldn’t have waited just one more day. So insensitive!’

MP Henry Smith, who lost his son in 2004, also contributed to the debate and tweeted: ‘On their pregnancy news I wish the Duke & Duchess of Sussex well. As someone who’s had a baby son die it’s regrettable they announced this on Infant Loss Remembrance Day. I’m sure unintentional and hopefully will help raise global awareness from Australia, the UK and worldwide.’

Do you think the couple should have waited? Did you find it insensitive? Head over to our Facebook page to share your opinion on the matter!

Jessica Ransom
Senior Food Writer

Jessica is a freelance food writer, stylist and recipe tester. She previously worked as Senior Food Writer at Future. While at Future Jessica wrote food and drink-related news stories and features, curated product pages, reviewed equipment, and developed recipes that she then styled on food shoots. She is an enthusiastic, self-taught cook who adores eating out and sharing great food and drink with friends and family. She has completed the Level 1 Associate course at the Academy of Cheese and is continually building on her knowledge of beers, wines, and spirits.