Meghan and Harry named their son Archie after her pet cat

The Duchess of Sussex took inspiration for her newborn son's name from a beloved pet, it is claimed.

A former close friend of Meghan told The Sun the moniker appeared to be a reference to her cat named Archie, who she shared with her mother Doria Ragland, 62.

'Doria rescued Archie and he became an important part of the household. Meghan loved playing with him and she was always talking about him to her friends,' they told the publication.

'It's no surprise she named her new baby Archie. She loved that cat.'

Meghan, 37, is believed to have told friends the cat ended becoming fat after constantly feeding it grapes.

The cat is believed to have died while the former actress was in college at Northwestern University in Chicago.

Meghan and Harry welcomed Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor on Monday and introduced him to the world at a photocall in Windsor Castle, on Wednesday.