Why Elizabeth, Charles and Camilla may miss Lilibet Diana's christening
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s first daughter, Lilibet Diana, named for Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, is five months old and hasn’t been christened yet, which prompted speculation from royal watchers on where and when a christening would eventually take place.
This speculation prompted a spokesperson for the family to say yesterday that plans for the christening “have not been finalised”. A palace insider said there would not be a christening in the UK.
Speaking to The Sun, author and editor of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward that if the christening took place in the United States, where Harry and Meghan now live, much of Harry’s immediate family would be absent.
The reason key members of the Royal Family, including great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, grandparents Prince Charles and Camilla and uncle Prince Charles and aunt Kate may miss Lilibet’s christening is that their schedules simply wouldn’t allow for it.
Seward said, "I don't think any members of the immediate Royal Family would have time [to fly over], their schedules are organised six months in advance.”
When the couple’s first child, Archie, was christened at Windsor Castle in 2019, the Queen and Prince Philip did not attend as they were in Sandringham. The Queen also did not attend the christening of William and Kate’s youngest child, Prince Louis.
It has been reported that Lilibet could be baptised into the Episcopal Church of the US, which is a member of the Anglican Communion. The Bishop who delivered the sermon at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018, Bishop Michael Curry, is the head of the Episcopal Church and could officiate.
However, Lilibet would not automatically be considered a member of the Church of England until she came to the UK and joined a local congregation. Seward said Harry and Meghan could baptise their daughter privately at Windsor Castle, which is what they did with Archie.
Potential godparents that have been suggested by royal watchers include Princess Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall, or even Oprah Winfrey. Seward said the couple would choose someone particularly close to them, because, "with godparents you usually want someone who you've known all your life."
Meghan herself was baptised into the church ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry in 2018.
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