Royals Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Just Announced Their 'Private' Royal Baby Birth Plan The palace will announce when the Duchess of Sussex is in labor, but plans around the royal baby's arrival will be kept private By Erin Hill Erin Hill Twitter Senior News Editor, PEOPLE People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 11, 2019 05:48 AM Share Tweet Pin Email Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are sharing new details about the upcoming arrival of the royal baby. With just days to go before the birth of their first child, the soon-to-be parents released a statement on Thursday announcing a few key facts. The main one: They want to keep details of their plan private and, unlike sister-in-law Kate Middleton, they will not be posing on the steps of a hospital to reveal their newborn. Royal fans will get to see the happy couple with their new baby, however, soon after the birth. Within a few days after welcoming their first child, Meghan and Harry will take part in a photo op with their new baby on the grounds of Windsor Castle. The palace will also announce when the Duchess of Sussex is in labor. Meghan and Harry will then likely announce their baby’s arrival on their new Instagram account, @sussexroyal. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Tim Rooke/REX/Shutterstock In a brief statement released by Buckingham Palace, the couple thanked people for their well-wishes in the lead up to the impending birth. Countdown to Royal Baby! Everything We Know About Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Baby So Far “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very grateful for the goodwill they have received from people throughout the United Kingdom and around the world as they prepare to welcome their baby,” the statement reads. ”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.” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via AP Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The palace would not confirm whether the couple was planning on having their baby at home at their newly-renovated Frogmore Cottage or in a nearby hospital. But it is very unlikely Meghan will give birth at the private Lindo Wing of St. Mary’s Hospital — which is Kate’s hospital of choice. Samir Hussein/WireImage With the couple’s recent move to their new country abode of Frogmore Cottage, if they do choose a hospital it will be closer to home instead of traveling the 25 miles to St. Mary’s. There are several options near the town of Windsor – including Princess Margaret Hospital and King Edward VII Hospital – or Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, where Sophie, Countess of Wessex, had her two children. Doug Peters/PA Images/INSTARimages With all the pressures that come with bringing a baby into the world, the parents-to-be are resolved to build a sanctuary for their little family in their new home in Windsor. “This is a very happy time for Meghan and Harry,” a source tells PEOPLE. “This baby has brought them even closer.”