Meghan Markle & Prince Harry 'Settled On Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital' Since The Former Actress Loves That 'It's Female-Founded,' Source Says
June 10 2021, Published 3:58 p.m. ET
Though Omid Scobie speculated that Meghan Markle may give birth at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, she ended up welcoming daughter Lilibet Diana elsewhere — and for a good reason.
"They looked at several hospitals before they settled on the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital," a source told PEOPLE. "Meghan loves that it's female-founded."
Dr. Melissa Drake cared for Meghan, while Dr. Gowri Motha — who helped oversee Archie's birth — remotely supported the former actress.
"Security and privacy were also priorities," the insider added. "They had a big security team that the hospital needed to accommodate. Meghan and Harry are both very thankful for how smoothly things went. They could enjoy the birth in peace."
The pair announced the exciting news to the public on June 6.
"It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet 'Lili' Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world," they wrote on their Archewell website.
"Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA. She weighed 7 lbs 11 oz. Both mother and child are healthy and well, and settling in at home," the statement continued. "Lili is named after her great-grandmother, Her Majesty The Queen, whose family nickname is Lilibet. Her middle name, Diana, was chosen to honor her beloved late grandmother, The Princess of Wales."
Now, the brunette beauty, 39, and Harry, 36, will get to bond with their tots at their Montecito, Calif., home.
"Meghan and Harry are taking time off to focus on their family," the source adds. "They want to have a long summer break together as a family."
“Lili is more perfect than Harry and Meghan could ever imagine,” another source dished to Us Weekly. “They are so in love with her, and she’s absolutely beautiful. She’s a cross between Harry and Meghan.”
