Like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, this is how you too can have a ‘woke’ baby shower

Having celebrated an ultra-lavish and highly exclusive baby shower in February, co-organised by Serena Williams and Amal Clooney (no big deal), rumours of a second UK-based affair to mark the imminent arrival of the Royal baby are now in circulation - and it seems the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s fans want in on the action.

On Twitter, the hashtag #GlobalSussexBabyShower has seen royal fans from either side of the Atlantic come together to launch a virtual charity fundraiser in honour of the little one's impending birth.

The campaign has raised more than £22,000 (and counting) for the Duchess of Sussex’s favourite charities, including three main beneficiaries, Mayhew, Wellchild and Camfed, who reported a ten-fold rise in their usual donations over the weekend.

Wellchild, which has Prince Harry as its patron, had more than 140 donations by Monday morning, totalling around £2,400.

Colin Dyer, WellChild chief executive, said: “We have been surprised and delighted by the donations from supporters of #GlobalSussexBabyShower its great that an online outpouring of goodwill can lead to practical help for children with serious illness and their families.

Similarly, Camfed - the Campaign for Female Education which works in poor rural communities of sub-Saharan Africa - reported an “extraordinary weekend” and had added #GlobalSussexBabyShower to its website menu options when asking users “what prompted you to donate”. By Monday afternoon it had seen donations from 660 donors totalling £15,136.10.

The news comes after the Duchess’s opulent New York baby shower, held at a penthouse at the Mark Hotel in the Upper East Side, received criticism for its reputed £350,000 price tag and ‘Marie Antoinette-style’ decadence.

Dickie Arbiter, the Queen's press secretary until 2000, remarked: “baby showers, it’s very much an American thing. We don’t do it here in the U.K. It was a bit over the top in terms of expense and the way she got there. Meghan is American and she does things the American way.”

The thoughtfulness at the centre of the latest global baby shower however, appears to be more in tune with the Duchess’s ethos and is reminiscent of their nuptials, when the couple invited admirers to make a donation to one of seven chosen organisations in lieu of a wedding gift.

All of this feels like a nod to the uber-‘woke’ current climate, where our words and actions are judged according to political and social injustices, adding to a collective hypersensitivity which everyone (bar millennials) is sick of.

Clearly not even baby showers are safe from this avalanche of woke-ness. But as holder of the title of ‘woke princess’, how do you ensure your baby shower meets the woke criteria?

1) Keep it gender neutral

Whether you’re planning it for yourself or someone else, avoid outdated hues of pink and blue, and instead opt for grey, pale yellow or white. This palette should also be translated into the decor and theme in order to enhance your message.

2) Avoid a 'reveal ceremony'

Social media has become increasingly swamped with videos of couples popping balloons and confetti cannons to reveal the gender of their baby. As exciting as it may be for some, the celebration becomes less about the birth of the baby and more about finding out whether this baby is a boy or a girl - which surely is far from the most important part.

3) The nappy cake

Nappy cakes are a staple at baby showers, but for those still at a loss – it’s a 'cake' made entirely of nappies. Whether gifted or created as a decorative piece, don’t run to your local Tesco to pick up a pack of Huggies just yet. The rise of reusable nappies, means there is an eco-friendly alternative.

'Cloth-bumming' as per influencer Cecilia Leslie means paying up to £160 for a pair of limited edition reusable nappies. Should you feel so generous, a cake made of sustainable nappies would be a welcome treat for woke parents-to-be. 

4) Focus the energy on both parents

We’ve heard the saying “We’re having a baby”, so why is it that we so often find expectant mothers are the centre of the party? Making sure both parents are involved will not only create a wholesome gathering but sets the tone of the shared modern parenting style to come.

5) Eco-friendly gifting

If you wish to follow in the Sussexes' suit, request gifts which help you as well as the world. Do this by registering with a brand that shares your ethical viewpoint.

If you’re the one gifting, be conscious of the things you buy and opt for products like organic baby clothes and bibs or a hamper packed with plastic-free goods.