Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s baby have red hair?

We have the answer!

Content Editor / October 24 2018

The Duke of Sussex has long been one of our favourite redheads, and has even been hailed as a ‘ginger role model’ on his recent trip to Australia with Meghan Markle.

Fans flocked to see the royal couple bearing signs saying ‘Ranga’s rule’ and one little boy held a sign with ‘High five for a ginger?’ emblazoned on it.

But the big question is will Harry’s ginger genes carry through to his baby with new bride Meghan?

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. 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. 📷PA
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. 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. 📷PA

According to redhead lifestyle website Ginger Parrot, there’s actually a formula whereby you can work out the odds of a child having red hair.

Red hair is recessive so must be present in both parents’ genetics for their child to be a redhead. If one parent doesn’t carry the so-called ‘ginger gene’ the baby won’t have red hair. Both parents must carry the gene, whether they are redheads themselves or not.

Red hair is also pretty rare, with only 2-4% of the world’s population being natural redheads.

Thank you everyone for your lovely messages on The Duke of Sussex's birthday! #HappyBirthdayHRH 📷PA
Thank you everyone for your lovely messages on The Duke of Sussex's birthday! #HappyBirthdayHRH 📷PA

Obviously Harry has the gene, but what about Megan? While she is mixed race, with dark hair and olive skin, is doesn’t mean she doesn’t carry the MC1R ginger gene. If she does have the gene, then the baby has a 50% chance of being a redhead.

Parents

Natural redhead

Non-redhead with gene

Non-redhead, no gene

Natural redhead

100%

50%

0% but will carry the gene

Non-redhead with gene

50%

25%

0% but will carry the gene

Non-redhead, no gene

0% but will carry the gene

0% but will carry the gene

0%

And looking at her family members, her half brother Thomas Markle has red hair, so there is a chance it could happen. Plus Megan herself has freckles, which could be an another indicator.

Regardless, if Meghan does carry the gene, it will be passed on to future generations, whether her new baby is a redhead or not. So the royal family will hopefully boast redheads for decades to come.

Nicola Conville has worked as a journalist and editor for more than 20 years across a wide range of print and online publications. Her areas of expertise are parenting, health and travel. She has two children; Lucy, age eight, and Nathan, age five.