The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s first child, Archie, is set to be christened this weekend on July 6th, and while many people have been looking forward to getting another glimpse of the royal baby and finding out who Archie’s godparents will be – a few A-listers in the mix perhaps? – Buckingham Palace have today announced the godparents will be kept private.
Earlier this week it was already revealed the ceremony would be kept completely private with less than 25 guests and no press present.
And, while many had thought the couple would opt for St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the couple tied the knot and Harry himself was christened, the new press release confirms the christening will take place at the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle instead.
Master Archie will be christened this weekend in a private ceremony in the Queen’s Private Chapel. (Image: Getty)
“Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor in a small private ceremony by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday 6th July,” begins the press release.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex look forward to sharing some images taken on the day by photographer Chris Allerton.
“The godparents, in keeping with their wishes, will remain private.”
The announcement that the godparents will remain private is likely to get many riled up, with several royal commentators and the public disgruntled that the ceremony was to be completely private, particularly after it was revealed last week how much the couple spent on renovations of their home Frogmore Cottage with British taxpayer money.
Of course, it should be noted that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge also kept the actual baptism of their three children private, however press were allowed to be present outside the chapel to capture them and their guests as they arrived and left.
The Cambridges heading to Princess Charlotte’s christening in 2015. (Image: Getty)
While many have been quick to blame Meghan for the supposed ditching of tradition for Archie’s christening, according to editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward, it’s actually Harry who has wanted to keep Archie’s christening small and private.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Ingrid says Meghan has received a fair deal of “unfair” criticism saying: “I think this is quite Harry-led and it is putting Meghan in a very difficult position.
“She’s the one getting all the flak as a newcomer to the Royal Family.
“I assume Harry and Meghan don’t know where they are going wrong and think the criticism is all very unfair.”
This revelation isn’t that surprising when you consider Harry’s love-hate relationship with the press.
According to royal expert Ingrid Seward, it’s Harry, not Meghan who is wanting to keep Archie’s christening small and private. (Image: Getty)
He’s often touched on the difficulty of growing up in the media and the public eye and also the role paparazzi played in the tragic death of his mother Princess Diana, and was fiercely protective of Meghan when they first went public with their relationship in 2016, releasing a rare statement condemning the “abuse and harassment” she had received at the hands of the press.
“Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle’s safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her,” states just a snippet of the extensive statement made by the Palace.
“It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm. He knows commentators will say this is ‘the price she will pay’ and that ‘this is all part of the game’. He strongly disagrees. This is not a game – it is her life and his.”
It would only make sense that he would feel similarly about Archie’s privacy, who, as seventh in line to the throne, should arguably have the opportunity for a more private life than his three cousins, Prince George, 5, who will one day be King, Princess Charlotte, 4, and Prince Louis, 1.
Since his birth we’ve had two glimpses of baby Archie’s face, the first when his parents introduced him to the world two days after his birth and the second, in an adorable photo posted to the Sussex Royal Instagram to mark Father’s Day in the UK.
And with royal photographer Chris Allerton photographing the christening – he took the beautiful images Meghan and Harry shared on their one year anniversary as well as the photograph of baby Archie meeting the Queen – we know we’re in for some beautiful new images of Archie this weekend, and we can’t wait!
