Will Lilibet be christened in Britain? It's a no, says royal source

Flic Everett
·3-min read
Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex holding their son Archie, meet Archbishop Desmond Tutu (not pictured) at the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa, September 25, 2019. Reuters Photographer Toby Melville: ''I took this photograph during The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's official tour in southern Africa, across a courtyard balcony as they met Nobel-prize-winning civil rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Though Tutu is not in this frame, the presence of this magnetic personality I think put both Meghan and Harry at ease. Technically the image is helped by the bright sunlight which bounced around the white courtyard walls and lifted the details in Archie and Meghan's facial features, particularly in Meghan's eyes, and made the photograph more arresting. This was the first
Archie was christening in the UK - but his sister won't be, says a source. (Getty)

The christening at Windsor is off - if it was ever on. Despite reports of hopes that the royal feud between the Sussexes and the House of Windsor would be brought to a close over baby Lilibet's official entry to the world, as things stand, according to royal sources, it's not to be.

Baby Lilibet, named after the Queen, and Meghan and Harry's second child, will not follow her brother Archie to the font of St George's Chapel in Windsor, and she will not wear the traditional royal christening gown, a recent replica of the original which was created in 1841, and has been worn by generations of royal babies including Prince William and Prince Harry.

Although the Queen has not yet met her latest great-granddaughter - and Prince Charles has not met his second granddaughter - it seems the decision has been made to have Lilibet christened in California, within America's episcopal church.

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This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess shows Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with their son, Archie and the Duchess of Cornwall, Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, near London, Britain July 6, 2019. Chris Allerton/Pool via REUTERS NEWS EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO COMMERCIAL USE. NO MERCHANDISING, ADVERTISING, SOUVENIRS, MEMORABILIA or COLOURABLY SIMILAR. NOT FOR USE AFTER AFTER 31 DECEMBER, 2019 WITHOUT PRIOR PERMISSION FROM ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS. NO CROPPING. Copyright in this photograph is vested in The Duke and Duchess of Sussex. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the photograph. The photograph must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form and must include all of the individuals in the photograph when published.
Archie's official christening photo, one of the few released from the very private event. (Reuters)

A royal source told The Telegraph: "There will not be a christening in the UK. It is not happening."

As a result, unlike her brother and cousins, Lilibet will not be a member of the church of England, the institution headed by her great-grandmother.

Meghan was confirmed as a member of the Church of England before marrying Harry, in 2018.

Watch: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son Archie is 'coming into his own'

To the disappointment of royal fans, over four months after her birth, Harry and Meghan have not released any pictures of Lilibet, although they posed briefly for official photos when Archie was born, prior to leaving royal duties.

The ongoing family rift shows no sign of healing, as Prince Harry will not be attending a party to honour Princess Diana next week, although William is expected to be there.

There will be 100 guests, but seemingly, Diana's youngest son won't be amongst them.

The Duchess of Cambridge carries her son Prince George following his christening at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace by the Archbishop of Canterbury in central London.
Prince George's christening. George is wearing the replica royal christening gown. (Getty Images)

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However, a spokeswoman for the Sussexes said the plans for Lilibet’s christening were still being finalised and that claims to the contrary were “mere speculation”.

Back in July, a source told the Daily Mail: "Harry told several people that they want to have Lili christened at Windsor, just like her brother.

"They are happy to wait until circumstances allow."

Though Harry visited in July for the unveiling of Diana's statue in Kensington Palace gardens, he flew straight back to the US to be with his family afterwards, and no olive branch appears to have been extended since.

Though it now seems unlikely that the Sussexes will visit Britain soon as a family, the Queen's platinum jubilee in 2022 could provide the impetus to bring the family back together once more, and finally give the monarch a chance to meet her namesake.

Watch: Royal baby countdown: Prince Harry's christening robe

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