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Fact check: Did Meghan Markle and Joe Giuliano have a child together and what is the child's name?
Executive Summary
The allegation that Meghan Markle and Joseph (Joe) Giuliano had a child together is unproven and rests on unverified claims, gossip and recycled speculation rather than verifiable evidence; the only confirmed children Meghan Markle has are Archie and Lilibeth with Prince Harry. Recent coverage from mid-2025 to August 2025 shows tabloids and gossip outlets repeating a narrative about a “secret daughter” and a purported brief marriage to Giuliano, but independent fact-checking and the available reporting find no credible documentation, photos, birth records, or contemporaneous reporting to substantiate the claim [1] [2] [3].
1. How the “secret child” story resurfaced and who is pushing it
Rumors about a secret child allegedly born before Meghan’s marriage to Prince Harry reappeared in June–August 2025, driven by sensational headlines and interviews that recycle long-standing conspiracy theories; many pieces cite anonymous sources or family members with known grievances, such as Samantha Markle, but provide no primary documentation. Multiple outlets that covered the gossip acknowledged the lack of proof and framed the story as speculative or driven by public appetite for new scandals about the couple [1] [4]. The reporting timeline shows initial rumor-mongering in June 2025 followed by an August wave of articles amplifying the claim without adding corroborating evidence, which suggests an agenda of attracting attention rather than establishing factual truth [2] [5].
2. What the available reporting actually says about Joe Giuliano and a marriage claim
Articles examining the alleged marriage between Meghan and Joseph Goldberg–Giuliano consistently find no marriage records, no credible contemporaneous witnesses, and no corroborating legal documents; the claim appears to stem from hearsay and internet speculation rather than archival fact-finding. Coverage that traces the allegation notes references to a 2019 video remark and statements from peripheral figures, but independent reviews conclude these do not amount to proof of a legal union or a child being born and abandoned [4] [3]. Fact-checking pieces explicitly call the marriage-and-child story a conspiracy theory lacking evidence, and reporters emphasize that Meghan’s documented marriages are to Trevor Engelson (divorced) and Prince Harry (current), reinforcing the absence of an intervening public marriage to Giuliano [3].
3. How credible outlets framed the rumor vs. gossip sites that amplified it
Credible analyses and fact-check pieces published in June–August 2025 framed the story as unverified, often highlighting how rumors spread in the absence of new, verifiable information; these analyses repeatedly conclude there is no credible evidence of a secret daughter. In contrast, tabloids and exclusive-seeking outlets ran headlines suggesting revelations or exclusives without adding documentary proof, which in turn fueled social media sharing and further circulation of the unsubstantiated narrative [4] [5]. Several outlets illustrated how a lighthearted joke by Meghan referencing a fictional “third baby” was misinterpreted or weaponized by rumor-mongers, demonstrating the ease with which playful remarks can be co-opted into purported "evidence" [6].
4. The broader context: Why this rumor persists and what’s missing from the reporting
Public fascination with royal-family drama combined with existing antagonism toward Meghan — including commentary from estranged relatives and partisan tabloids — creates fertile ground for persistent false narratives; the reporting repeatedly lacks primary records such as birth certificates, hospital records, or legal filings that would be necessary to substantiate a secret child claim. Analysts in the coverage point out that isolated remarks, secondhand claims, and decades-old anecdotes cannot substitute for documentary proof, and note that the cycle of rumor benefits outlets chasing clicks more than it informs readers [7] [1]. The absence of corroborating evidence across multiple independent fact-checks is the critical omission that prevents the claim from moving beyond speculation [4].
5. Bottom line: What readers should conclude now
Based on the reviewed reporting through August 2025, the responsible conclusion is that there is no credible evidence Meghan Markle had a child with Joe Giuliano and no verified name for such a child exists; the claim remains an unproven rumor propagated by gossip outlets and disputed family members. Readers should treat headlines asserting a “secret daughter” with skepticism and look for primary-source proof — public records, authenticated documents, or on-the-record confirmations — before accepting such assertions. The combination of repeated debunking by credible analyses and the lack of any new factual documentation means the allegation should be considered unfounded until verifiable evidence emerges [1] [3].