The news that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby in spring 2019 prompted a spike in conversation on social media, with #RoyalBaby soon becoming the top trend on Twitter.

The official announcement was made by Kensington Palace on Monday morning, and many were quick to comment on the short time since the couple’s wedding in May this year.

Writer and broadcaster Gyles Brandreth wrote on Twitter: “They don’t hang around in Sussex, do they?”

“Harry ain’t wasting any time,” said Geordie Shore star Gary Beadle.

The popular @Queen_UK parody account also got involved, tweeting: “Already?! #royalbaby.”

Others made reference to the Duchess’ career as an actress on the American drama Suits.

“There’s only one man that can be the Godfather,” wrote presenter Ben Sheppard, accompanying the tweet with a gif of the show’s Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht.

Journalist Alice May Dear posted a gif of Michael Scott, Steve Carrell’s character in the American adaptation of the Office, shouting “Oh my god! Okay it’s happening!”.

“Every journalist in the UK right now after Meghan and Harry announce they’re having a baby,” she wrote.

Fellow reporter Edward Jones tweeted: “Spare a thought today for all those PRs out there who, after weeks drafting press releases and selling in their story, have just been bumped by the #RoyalBaby”.

Meanwhile some joked about the timing of Meghan’s due date – with the couple’s first baby set to arrive shortly after the day Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union.

“Please let it be March 29th,” wrote BBC News presenter Simon McCoy.

Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire added: “The world’s 7,667,957,370th baby is the answer to Theresa May’s Brexit prayers. For one day only.”

Finally, the Twitter account for Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru couldn’t resist a tweet referencing the future royal’s possible hair colour.

“Everyone loves a wee ginger,” it tweeted.