Queen Elizabeth II was never pictured pregnant; here’s why


Queen Elizabeth II was mother to four children: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward. Despite being a popular public figure and having a glaring public life, the Queen was never pictured pregnant except once when she had a baby bump, which was barely noticeable.

Just like several other Royal protocols, one strictly forbade the Royals to appear during pregnancy. It also did not allow them to speak in public about it.

Pregnancy was seen as a taboo at that time. Just like common people, Royals also considered it something that should be shielded.

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How did she hide her pregnancy from the world?

As per reports, the Queen did not embrace her pregnancy like the Royals are doing recently. She hid her pregnancy under loose fitting blouses and boxy coats. She always kept the pregnancies low-key. During the later parts of the pregnancy she kept herself away from public life.

A disguised announcement was made by the Royal Palace…

In 1948, during her pregnancy, the Buckingham Palace announced: “Her Royal Highness Princess Elizabeth will undertake no public engagements after the end of June.” King Charles III was born on November 14, 1948.

However, years later Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton went out in public during their pregnancy.

Queen hated the word ‘pregnancy’

As per reports, the Queen considered the word ‘pregnancy’ as vulgar. Instead of using the word itself, she asked people to use it as ‘in the family way’, an old-fashioned phrase.

It was until December, the baby King Charles III was not clicked. As per The Sun, the Queen was 22 when she was pregnant with her first child. She was in labour pain for 22 hours. Citing reports, the media outlet says that Prince Philip was absent from the birth and was playing squash at the time his son arrived.

Princess Anne was born in 1950, Prince Andrew in 1960 and Prince Edward in 1964.