Meghan and Harry release baby Archie's christening photos - and include subtle tribute to Diana
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have released two gorgeous family photos from their son Archie’s christening, which took place in a private chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday morning.
The first image is black and white toned and shows the Duke and Duchess with their son at Windsor Castle with the Rose Garden in the background.
Meghan, 37, wearing a bespoke midi dress by Dior, gazes at husband Harry, 34, as she holds her two-month-old son in her arms.
The second family portrait sees the family of three joined by proud grandparents the Prince of Wales with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, who flew in from Los Angeles to be with her first grandchild on his special day.
Prince Harry’s brother William and sister-in-law Kate sit to the right of their nephew. The duke matched his father in a dark navy suit, while the duchess wore a pink pussy-bow dress by Stella McCartney with red courts and a matching headband.
There were also subtle tributes to Harry and William’s late mother Princess Diana, as they were joined in their portrait by her sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to share the happiness of this day, and would like to thank everyone around the world for their ongoing support. They feel so fortunate to have enjoyed this special moment with family and Archie’s godparents.”
Photographer Chris Allerton said: "I am honoured to take the official photographs at the christening of Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, and to once again, be part of such a special and joyous occasion for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex."
The royal tot is dressed in the traditional Honiton christening gown.
The frilled satin dress is a replica of the baptism garment first worn by Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, also named Victoria, back in 1841. It’s thought that the original became too fragile and the Queen asked her personal dresser Angela Kelly to make a replica.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have all worn the outfit.
Archie is the tenth royal tot to wear the christening gown.
READ MORE: Meghan Markle's subtle tribute to baby Archie in Wimbledon outfit
In accordance with Royal tradition, The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan were used during the christening, which was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.
The Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland were among the 30 guests present for the baptism.
Harry and William’s former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke was also pictured arriving at Windsor Castle.
The Queen did not attend as it’s believed she had prior commitments.
READ MORE: Archie’s godparents not ‘celebrities’ as Meghan and Harry keep christening details private
The names of Archie’s godparents have not been made public. A statement from Buckingham Palace earlier this week, read: “The godparents, in keeping with their wishes, will remain private.”
Among the names widely tipped to be chosen as godparents were tennis star Serena Williams, Meghan’s close friend Jessica Mulroney, George and Amal Clooney and Prince Harry’s cousins Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie.
But it’s believed that none of the couple’s high profile friends have been chosen.
Meghan made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon with her Northwestern university friends Lyndsay Roth and Genevieve Hillis, who are rumoured to have been picked to be Archie’s godmothers.
READ MORE: Have Meghan and Harry broken the rules when it comes to naming Archie's godparents?
It’s possible that information about Archie’s godparents may be released in due course, as the Church of England dictates under the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978 that “a register book of public and private baptisms shall be provided for every parish,” and these records can be accessed by anyone who is willing to pay the £30 fee.
However, as the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she could make the Private Chapel a Royal Peculiar. This means it would be exempt from the jurisdiction of the diocese which would enable details of the christening to remain private.
Harry and Meghan wouldn’t be the first royals to not reveal the names of their child’s godparents. Zara and Mike Tindall took the same stance when their daughters Mia, five, and one-year-old Lena were baptised.
Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was born at 5:26am on May 6, 2019.
His birth certificate was eventually made public, revealing that he had been born at The Portland Hospital in London.
The world was given its first glimpse of Meghan and Harry’s first child two days after his birth, during a brief photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle.
