Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Want Archie's Christening to Be Private—and People Aren't Happy About It
Baby Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry‘s son, is reportedly set to have his christening this Saturday, July 6, and it will take place at a special location for the family: Queen Elizabeth’s private chapel in Windsor Castle.
People reports that it will be a low-key affair at Windsor Castle, near the family’s newly-renovated Frogmore Cottage home. A royal source said the couple “wanted an intimate, peaceful setting in a place with such a special connection to Her Majesty.” That’s not the only connection: The couple famously married at the larger St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
The timing of Archie’s christening—at around two months old—is in line with Kate Middleton and Prince William’s children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, reports claim that Archie’s may be less public than those of his cousins.
“This is a beautiful milestone and they are excited to share it as a family first and then with the world,” People‘s source said. The event will reportedly only include about 25 close friends and family members with images being released to the public afterward. Hello! reports that Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, and Markle’s mom, Doria Ragland, are set to attend.
Given how Markle and Harry have chosen to make announcements about Archie, it’s a fairly safe bet to assume they will use their @SussexRoyal Instagram account in some way.
During Prince Louis’s christening, the press was allowed to film the family and guests entering and leaving the ceremony, but that will apparently not be the case for Archie, which has caused some debate online and in the British press.
Team Sussex fans on social media were quick to defend the couple’s choice for privacy, citing the treatment of Markle in British papers. “Dear Archie, we trash talk your mummy EVERYDAY so please can we have access to your christening so we can trash talk her choices for you, her fashion, your god parents, critique her body language and basically trash talk her existence, love (not really) The Daily Mail xoxo,” one person wrote on Twitter. “British press is just bitter that they can’t profit off of Meghan and Harry christening Archie in private. That is all,” another tweeted.
Little Archie is expected to wear the replica of Princess Victoria’s christening gown, just like his cousins. We can’t wait to see what adorable photos Markle and Harry choose to release.