Royal insider responds to reports Meghan Markle has already given birth

As fans of the royal family are no doubt aware, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are due to welcome their first child soon.

The Duchess of Sussex is said to be due in late April or early May, but some royal watchers have become convinced that Baby Sussex has already arrived. Especially after the announcement that Meghan and Harry will be keeping the birth private. In a statement, the palace confirmed that Meghan wouldn't appear in a public photocall hours after baby's arrival, unlike Kate Middleton.

They said:

"Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private. "The Duke and Duchess look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family."

Combined with the fact that Meghan hasn't been seen in public for awhile, royal fans were fairly suspicious. However, a royal insider has responded to the rumours - and urged fans to "hold their horses" for an official announcement.

The Queen's former aide, Dickie Arbiter, appeared on the Australian show Today Extra where he insisted there wasn't "any substance" to the rumours. He said [via The Sun]:

"If you believe that, you'd believe anything. We'll know in due course when the baby is born. "Harry and Meghan made it very clear the birth is going to be private. "There aren't going to be any advance notices and they will release any details once they've had time to bond with the baby. "The birth will come as they said, in late April, early May, and we just need to hold our horses until then."

It comes amid reports that Meghan is said to be considering a birth plan that would break from royal tradition. A source, believed to be a friend of Prince Harry, spoke to The Daily Star on Sunday:

"Apparently she wants it to be as natural as possible: no drugs, no caesareans and so on. It’s the next logical step from all her yoga, meditation and so on. "Obviously when she goes into labour she might end up, medically speaking, having to go the more conventional route. "But for now a water birth is absolutely her plan, is what they’re saying".