Royal Fans STUNNED: The Untold Truth Behind Archie’s Christening That Makes It Unlike ANY Other Royal Baby Ceremony—What Meghan and Harry Did Will Leave You Speechless!

In a move that underscores their ongoing desire to carve their own path, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle marked a significant milestone in their son’s life with a christening ceremony that was as private as it was groundbreaking. On July 6th, 2019, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was baptized at Windsor Castle, a location steeped in royal history—but this event bore little resemblance to the christenings of other recent royal children.

While christenings within the British royal family have long been treated as semi-public affairs, particularly in the modern media age, Harry and Meghan’s decision to keep Archie’s baptism behind closed doors was a bold departure. With a guest list limited to fewer than 25 people and a complete media blackout, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made it clear: they were setting their own rules.

A Private Affair in a Public World

Royal baptisms have traditionally been private religious ceremonies, but over the years, they have morphed into carefully choreographed events with photo ops for the press and appearances by extended family. When Prince William and Kate Middleton christened their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—the public was treated to photographs and scenes of the family and godparents arriving at the church.

Not so with Archie. Harry and Meghan chose to exclude the media altogether, opting instead for a single set of official photos taken by their trusted photographer Chris Allerton, who had also documented their wedding. The only images released to the public were tightly controlled, showing Archie with his parents and a few close family members.

This media lockdown was met with mixed reactions. Critics argued that as public figures funded by the taxpayer, the couple owed the public a greater degree of transparency. Supporters, however, applauded their efforts to shield their newborn son from the unrelenting spotlight that has hounded the couple since their relationship began.

Who Was (and Wasn’t) There?

The guest list was small, intimate, and somewhat surprising. Notably absent was Queen Elizabeth II, who had prior engagements. However, other senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were in attendance.

The mystery surrounding Archie’s godparents only deepened the intrigue. While the royal family typically names godparents publicly—a nod to transparency and tradition—Harry and Meghan declined to reveal any names, further reinforcing their commitment to privacy.

That didn’t stop the rumor mill from spinning. Speculation swirled around Meghan’s close friend, Canadian stylist Jessica Mulroney, as a likely godparent. On Harry’s side, it was believed that his longtime friends, brothers Thomas and Charlie van Straubenzee, may have made the cut. Serena Williams, another close friend of Meghan, publicly ruled herself out due to her participation in Wimbledon the same weekend.

Traditionally, royal babies have more godparents than average. Prince Louis has six, Princess Charlotte has five, and Prince George tops the list with seven. The Church of England offers flexibility in these appointments, recommending a minimum of three—two of the same sex as the child and one of the opposite sex—but royals often go beyond the minimum to include extended networks of support and mentorship.

The Historic Christening Gown

One royal tradition that the couple did honor was the use of the royal christening gown—a replica of the original Victorian gown made for Queen Victoria’s first child. This version, created in 2004 by Angela Kelly, the Queen’s longtime dresser, and her team of royal dressmakers, has been used by royal infants for over a decade.

The gown is a meticulous replica, featuring intricate lace, satin, bows, and a dramatic skirt—resembling the one worn by Archie’s cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Its use serves as one of the few nods to tradition in a ceremony that otherwise broke away from convention.

Why the Date Mattered

Archie was exactly two months old on the day of his christening, a relatively standard age within royal precedent. Prince George was three months old at his christening, Charlotte was baptized at nine weeks, and Louis at eleven. Prince Harry himself was baptized at the same location—St. George’s Chapel, Windsor—on December 21, 1984, when he was three months and six days old.

While there are no fixed rules about the ideal timing for a baptism, the couple’s decision fell well within traditional ranges. However, almost everything else about the event was a clear assertion of independence and personal preference.

The Broader Context: Religion and Relevance

It’s worth noting that this ceremony comes at a time when church baptisms in the UK are declining rapidly. According to data from the BBC, the number of baptisms performed by the Church of England dropped from 135,000 in 2009 to just under 93,000 by 2017. That steep decline reflects changing societal values, secularization, and differing attitudes toward religious rites of passage.

In this broader context, Archie’s christening, even if private, served to remind the public of the monarchy’s longstanding ties to the Church of England, while also highlighting how even the most traditional of institutions must adapt to modern realities.

A New Era of Royal Parenting

Harry and Meghan’s desire to keep their son’s christening out of the public eye is emblematic of their broader approach to parenting. Since Archie’s birth, the couple has made clear they intend to protect their child from the intrusive glare that characterized much of Harry’s own upbringing.

Their controversial decision to step back from royal duties, relocate to North America, and distance themselves from tabloid scrutiny all signal a new era in royal parenting—one defined by autonomy, privacy, and a reevaluation of what it means to raise a child in the royal sphere.

From the earliest moments of Archie’s life, his parents have attempted to walk a delicate line: honoring certain traditions while rejecting others that no longer align with their values or lifestyle. The christening at Windsor Castle was no exception. In a world where every detail of royal life is often dissected and sensationalized, Harry and Meghan chose to keep one of the most sacred moments of their child’s life just that—sacred.

Final Thoughts

The christening of Archie Harrison was more than just a religious ceremony—it was a carefully crafted statement. By opting for privacy over pageantry, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle demonstrated a willingness to disrupt long-standing norms in favor of what they believe is right for their family.

Whether that approach will ultimately redefine royal conventions or further distance the couple from the monarchy remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that this christening marked the beginning of a very different kind of royal upbringing—one that values privacy over protocol, and personal choice over public expectation.

As the royal family continues to evolve in the 21st century, Archie Harrison’s christening may come to symbolize the quiet but significant shift from tradition to transformation.