It’s almost time for Baby Sussex, the first child of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, to finally make his or her debut. And at last we have a new statement from Buckingham Palace about plans surrounding the royal baby’s arrival—well, sort of.

The palaces (first Kensington, now Buckingham after Prince Harry and Markle’s split to establish their own household) have remained basically silent since the pregnancy was first announced in October 2018. “Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very pleased to announce that The Duchess of Sussex is expecting a baby in the Spring of 2019,” KP posted to both Twitter and Instagram at the time. “Their Royal Highnesses have appreciated all of the support they have received from people around the world since their wedding in May and are delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public.”

Now, the latest announcement continues to prove Prince Harry and Markle are doing this royal baby thing their way—and I’m so glad they are. “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 from Buckingham Palace 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.”

This is as sure a sign as we’ve seen that Markle won’t be standing outside a hospital for a photo call mere hours after giving birth, like her sister-in-law Kate Middleton. (Reporters do expect to be informed when the duchess is in labor.) As a royals fan, am I low-key sad we won’t immediately get a photo of Baby Sussex? Sure. As a woman, though, I think it’s fantastic Markle (and Prince Harry) are doing what’s right for them and not what’s expected (or wanted) from the world. This is their family and their baby, after all.

Of course, Baby Sussex will be seventh in line for the throne, which puts Prince Harry and Markle in a different position than Prince William and Middleton were in upon the birth of their children, as noted by royals reporter Chris Ship. (Prince George is third in line behind his father and Prince Charles, with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis following behind him.)

Ship also tweeted, “Perhaps the biggest question is this: Why should we expect any woman, royal or otherwise, to stand in front of a bank of cameras just hours—or even days—after she has given birth? You can see how Meghan looked at that prospect and thought, ‘thanks but no thanks’ …” Reactions to this announcement have been generally supportive across social media:

Whenever we see that first photo of the royal baby, I’ll be thrilled—and all the more so knowing it’s the way Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted it to happen.

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