Royal watchers hoping to catch a glimpse of baby Archie at his christening are likely to be disappointed as it’s now been widely claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan will go against royal tradition and keep the ceremony private next weekend.
According to The Times, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning a private ceremony at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where they married last year, and where Harry was christened in 1984. While the christening will be a media-free event, fans will likely get to see some pictures of Archie in the days following his christening.
The ceremony is believed to be taking place next weekend, although the date is yet to be confirmed by the palace.
However, in a new and contrary report, Daily Mail royal correspondent Rebecca English claims baby Archie will be christened in the Queen’s private chapel at Windsor Castle, and there will be just 25 guests attending the “intimate” family ceremony.
Either way, The Times reports the couple are determined to keep their son a “private citizen” and feel strongly about “shielding” him.
However, some royal fans aren’t too happy about it, including royal author Penny Juror who has criticised the couple’s decision.
“They can’t have it both ways. Either they are totally private, pay for their own house and disappear out of view or play the game the way it is played,” she told The Times.
“Seeing Archie and his godparents arriving at the christening is what people are interested in; it isn’t baring your baby’s soul, just giving the public who love and support them a crumb to enjoy. If they want it to be really private, hold it in a parish church, not St George’s Chapel where royal ceremonies are held.”
Juror also added it would be a good “quid pro quo” for the pair to show Archie off to the public, given taxpayers have paid almost £3 million (AU$5.5m) for Harry and Meghan’s house.
However, not everyone seemed to agree with Juror’s comments, with one social media user writing: “The christening is about baby Archie, not the guests.”
The decision to remain private about the baby’s christening is a stark difference to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who invited the media to the christening of all three of their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. The doting parents were also photographed outside of the hospital where the children were born shortly after their arrival — a royal tradition Prince Harry and Meghan also broke.