Royal Correspondent Reveals Why Archie's Christening Is to Be Held in the Queen’s Private Chapel

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex once again depart from royal tradition with their choice of a location to celebrate their firstborn’s christening which date has been recently revealed.

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, the first child of 37-year-old Meghan Markle and her husband 34-year-old Prince Harry, will be christened on July 6, exactly three months after his birth.

While the new parents will celebrate a typical private ceremony, their decision to hold it in Queen Elizabeth’s private chapel at Windsor Castle, instead of sticking to the more traditional location of the Chapel Royal in St. James’ Palace, is being read as another move toward privacy by the couple.

THE REASONS BEHIND THE CHOICE

As a royal source shared in social media, Harry and Markle “wanted an intimate, peaceful setting in a place with such a special connection to Her Majesty,” and they are expecting only around 25 family members and friends to be there.

“This is a beautiful milestone and they are excited to share it as a family first and then with the world,” the source added.

By choosing a spot so dear to Archie’s 93-year-old grandmother the Queen, the Duke and Duchess keep the monarch in their hearts for the special occasion, since she won’t be able to attend due to a previous engagement.

A VENUE WITH SPECIAL MEANINGS

The royal baby’s christening will take place not far from the place where his parents got married in 2018, St. George’s Chapel, also within Windsor Castle, and he place where Harry was baptized in 1984.

“The venue, in the inner sanctum of the castle, means it’s impossible to offer public access to the ceremony,” Royal Correspondent Rebecca English tweeted on June 30.

“Although pressure is on to allow at least one news organization access to arrivals, as well as the couple’s chosen photographer,” English added.

AN UNPOPULAR MOVE

While most royal christenings are private, there is always some extent of coverage from the outside and the arrivals allowed, something that Harry and Markle were apparently against.

"The move is in contrast to the decision by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to let cameras capture their children at their christenings, together with the arrivals of family members and godparents, before holding private services," Roya Nikkah from the Sunday Times wrote.

The religious ceremony will be most likely be lead by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the three-month-old will be wearing the same Christening gown that has been used by all of the Queen’s great-grandchildren.

The decision to make the ceremony completely private has drawn criticism to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex since the British public feel they are entitled to witness such a moment considering how much taxpayer money has been used for renovations on their new home at Frogmore Cottage.

CONCERN ABOUT HARRY’S PR DISASTERS

Former Royal Editor at The Sun, Duncan Larcombe, who knows Harry personally since the prince was a teenager, considered it another public relations disaster for Harry and Markle.

“I think he is a fantastic guy. When you see these PR disasters, week in week out, which we have increasingly seen in the past few months,” the journalist said in a recent “Good Morning Britain” (GMB) appearance.

“I worry for Harry because I think he deserves to be incredibly popular, so does Meghan,” Larcombe added.

“I worry about who is advising him, or if they are advising him well, why he is overriding the advice,” GMB host Piers Morgan said about Prince Harry’s actions that prompt the public to accuse him of hypocrisy.

“Here’s the thing, he has just become a parent, seven weeks, they are still learning. Maybe they didn’t expect this backlash. Harry has always broken the rules,” Julie Montagu stepped in to point out.