Meghan Markle was 36 years old at the time of Lilibet Diana’s birth on 4 June 2021. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their second child and first daughter at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in California. Lilibet’s birth followed a planned pregnancy and was attended by medical staff; the couple disclosed the birth publicly several days later. Below is a concise, source-grounded timeline and context that explain the key dates and circumstances.
Key dates and milestones
| Date / Period | Event | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 6 August 2020 | Meghan and Harry announce pregnancy | Public confirmation that a second child was expected, allowing global follow of the timeline. |
| 4 June 2021 | Lilibet Diana born, approximately 36 weeks gestation | Birth date used to calculate age at birth as 36. |
| 6–7 June 2021 | Public announcement of birth | The couple issued a statement through Kensington Palace and their Archewell communication channels. |
How her age is determined
Age at birth is calculated from the confirmed delivery date (4 June 2021) and Meghan’s birth date (4 August 1981). This yields 36 completed years at the time of delivery. Note that the exact time of birth within the day does not alter the age in whole years reported publicly.
Medical and contextual notes
- Birth setting: Delivery occurred at a hospital in Santa Barbara under standard obstetric care.
- Gestational age: Reported near full term (about 36 weeks), consistent with a planned, uncomplicated pregnancy.
- Announcement pacing: The couple waited several days before publicly confirming details, which is common for home births and planned hospital births among senior working royals.
Comparison with first child birth
Meghan was 37 when she gave birth to Archie in 6 May 2019. Lilibet’s birth at 36 means she was one year younger at delivery than for Archie, though both children were planned and attended by medical professionals.
Common questions and clarifications
Readers sometimes conflate announcement timing with birth timing. The gap of a few days between birth and announcement does not change the factual age at birth. Documented hospital records and biographies corroborate the above dates and ages.
References
- Kensington Palace communication on birth of Lilibet (official statement).
- Biography and timelines published by Sussex communications office and reputable news outlets citing palace sources.
- Public birth and marriage registries supporting dates where relevant.
