Meghan Markle Reportedly Wants a Three-Month Maternity Leave
According to the Sun, Meghan Markle is reportedly planning to take a three-month maternity leave—traditional to American standards—because she wants to get back to work focusing on charities and other causes she supports.


Meghan Markle officially went on maternity leave in mid-March, and since then everyone (me) has been glued to their phones, waiting for the sure-to-be-adorable Baby Sussex. Now, we have a bit more insight into when we might see Meghan again after she delivers: According to the Sun, Meghan Markle is reportedly planning to take a three-month maternity leave—traditional to American standards—because, like the total hardworking badass that she is, she wants to get back to work focusing on charities and other causes she supports.
According to a royal source, "Meghan has made it very clear she wants to return to work as soon as possible. She has huge amounts of energy, is extremely determined and wants to be as hands-on as possible with her charities.
"She's penciled in three months, but she'll most likely return to public life in six weeks—on the Queen's official birthday, Trooping the Colour, in June.
"Three months' maternity is standard in the U.S. for American mums—they don't normally get the six or even 12 months women get here in the U.K. So this is totally normal for Meghan."
Intriguingly, this will be just after President Trump's state visit to the U.K. earlier that week. Reportedly, Harry will also be taking paternity leave, but it's unclear as yet how long that'll be.
A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal)
A photo posted by on
Just for the sake of normalization, Kate has apparently taken between five weeks (George) and six months (Louis) for her own maternity leave, so, truly, it sounds like there is no "standard," even for one person's separate experiences. Whatever's healthiest for each individual person, I say.
Reportedly, since arriving last week, Meghan's mom Doria has been staying with the couple in advance of the big day (if it hasn't already happened—some fans think that Meghan's already given birth and we're going to get an announcement any second now). (Also, can you imagine how stealthy they must have been to keep that a secret from everyone??)
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
The whole family is "focused on family life" right now, reportedly, which is so sweet. A source told the Daily Mail, "Of course they're making plans for the future, and they're very excited about the options, but right now they have just moved into a beautiful new home and are focused on family life." This is probably in reference to the news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may take on a secondment, spending four months out of the year in a country in Africa. Clearly, there's a bit of time before any of that happens.
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
Harry Was Allegedly Crushed When William Received "Special Treatment"
"Poor Harry's face across the table," Princess Diana's former butler recalled.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince Harry Wasn't Informed About King Charles's Hospitalization
"It looks like the duke only found out about his father's latest health update through the media."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Jennifer Lawrence Styles a $7,500 Outfit With $100 Sneakers
The actress paired Prada and Celine with her $100 footwear.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle and Her Makeup Artist Confirmed All Her Royal Wedding Beauty Products
And yes, you can shop them all here.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow Open Up About Their "Rift" Over Pie
Expect a Goop x As Ever collab in three… two..
By Lia Beck Published
-
Meghan Markle Confirms Skinny Jeans Are Back by Finally Revealing Her Favorite Frame Denim
It's never been easier to dress like a duchess.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
New Prince Archie Photo Proves He Takes After Dad Prince Harry in Two Very Important Ways
Father and son have much more in common than their vibrant red hair.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Meghan Markle Shared a Rare Video Filmed by Prince Harry on Instagram
And she used her nickname for him in the shoutout she wrote in the video's caption.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Meghan Markle Sent a Handwritten Note to a Podcaster Who Said She Was "Scared" for the Royal Before Her Netflix Show Premiered
Mailing a handwritten note to reply to an Instagram comment might be the most Meghan Markle thing of all time.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Prince Harry’s Ex, Cressida Bonas, Is Launching a Podcast and Princess Eugenie Is Already Lined Up as a Guest
Other famous faces in the podcast's launch announcement video include Kate Winslet, Mary Berry, and Camilla Alves McConaughey.
By Kayleigh Roberts Published
-
Why Gwyneth Paltrow Supports Meghan Markle's Goop-style Reinvention Despite Not Knowing Her Personally
Book her for season 2 of 'With Love, Meghan' right now.
By Lia Beck Published