Meghan Markle's mother Doria 'arrives in the UK' ahead of royal baby birth

It’s the news the whole world is waiting for, and now it seems we could be just days away from a royal baby announcement.

Prince Harry and Meghan are expecting their first child any day now, and while they are wanting to keep the birth “as private as possible”, Meghan’s mum Doria Ragland is thought to have finally arrived in the UK to be by her daughter’s side.

Sources close to the family have revealed the social worker left her bungalow in Los Angeles last week, has hired a dog-sitter, and cancelled a senior citizens yoga class she teaches.

“It didn't take long for tongues to start wagging that perhaps the royal birth was responsible,” a source told The Sun On Sunday.

While she has a strained relationship with her father Thomas Markle Snr, it’s no surprise that Meghan would want her mum there for the birth of her first child.

Another source confirmed that Doria wants to spend as much time as possible with her first grandchild and is expected to stay in the UK for an extended period of time.

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It is believed she has hired a live-in-sitter to walk her pitbull cross and Yorkie dogs twice a day.

“She has sometimes worried about being so far away but she is absolutely going to be there for her at the birth,” the source told the publication.

A home for Doria

The royal mum-to-be and her own mother have always had a close bond. So much so that the royal couple have reportedly renovated one of Frogmore Cottage’s outhouses into a cosy cottage exclusively for Meghan’s mum to stay in when she visits.

Council documents obtained by The Express revealed the outhouse renovation, as well as a total estimated spend of over £3 million on the renovation efforts on Harry and Meghan’s historic Frogmore Cottage.

Earlier reports by Vanity Fair quoted a source who hinted at the renovations, and pointed to the likelihood of Doria settling in as a semi-permanent guest.

“Doria plans to be around a lot when the baby arrives, and there are plans for her to have a dedicated space at their new home,” the source said.

“She wants to be on hand to help Meghan and Harry with the baby.”

History-making birth

This will be the first time in history that a senior member of the UK royal family’s child will have both a British parent and an American-born parent.

That means that the baby will automatically hold British citizenship, after being born in the UK, but they may be able to hold dual US citizenship – depending on Meghan’s citizenship status.

While it’s not clear whether the baby will be a dual citizen, It’s widely expected that when the baby is born, he or she will not be referred to as ‘His or Her Royal Highness (HRH)’, and unlike cousins George, Charlotte and Louis, won’t be called ‘prince’ or ‘princess’.