Harry first spoke about the moment in his bestselling memoir

Prince Harry described the moment he was dancing with a heavily pregnant Meghan Markle as “nothing but love and joy”, five words that perfectly capture the hospital video that’s now gone viral.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex surprised fans this week when Meghan shared a candid Instagram video in honour of their daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday.

In the unexpected clip, filmed in 2021, the couple are seen dancing together in a hospital room to the song The Baby Momma Dance.

Meghan, wearing a black maternity dress, joyfully cradles her bump, lifts her skirt slightly, and dances to the beat, while Harry makes a cameo, hopping in and out of the frame.

Prince Harry comments on dancing in hospital room with Meghan Markle

While the video shocked many royal watchers used to the formality of Windsor life, fans of Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare were already in the know.

In his best-selling book, the prince gave readers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes moment.

Harry described the hours before Lilibet’s birth as joyful and lighthearted, a stark contrast to the stress and formality that surrounded Archie’s birth in the UK.

“We ate and ate and then did the Baby Mama Dance around the hospital room,” he wrote.

In a sweet five-word statement, he added that the atmosphere was filled with “nothing but love and joy”.

The viral video came with a caption from Meghan.

We ate and ate and then did the Baby Mama Dance around the hospital room.

“Four years ago today, this also happened. Both of our children were a week past their due dates,” she wrote on Instagram. “So, when spicy food, all that walking, and acupuncture didn’t work, there was only one thing left to do!”

The reaction to the video has been mixed.

While many fans praised it as a refreshing glimpse into the couple’s bond, others were quick to criticise it.

Some royal commentators called the video “unroyal”. They accused the couple of further distancing themselves from the traditional dignity associated with the monarchy.
Harry first spoke about the moment in his bestselling memoir (Credit: Cover Images)

Meghan and Harry face backlash for dancing video

The backlash reignited a familiar debate: should Harry and Meghan still hold royal titles? Among critics, the answer was a resounding “no”.

Foreign policy expert Nile Gardiner took to X (formerly Twitter), writing: “This is insane. The Queen would have been appalled. Meghan and Harry’s royal titles should be removed as soon as possible.”

Others echoed the sentiment, calling the video “vulgar” and “disgraceful”.

Royal biographer Angela Levin also chimed in: “I’m appalled too. Just awful.”

Despite the controversy, many supporters came to Meghan and Harry’s defence.

“I don’t get the rage over a young couple having fun celebrating their firstborn in the delivery room,” one fan commented.

Others noted the moment humanised the couple in a way rarely seen among royals.

“They seem like such down-to-earth, fun people who genuinely enjoy being with each other, who match each other’s energy perfectly and who are madly in love and absolutely adore each other,” another supporter gushed.