The Tradition Meghan And Harry May Depart From At Lilibet's Baptism

Jul 09, 2021

Meghan Markle gave birth to her second child, a girl, with Prince Harry on June 4, 2021 in California. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex first announced that they were expecting their second child on Valentine’s Day in 2021, only to reveal the baby’s sex during the March 7 interview special “Oprah with Meghan and Harry.”

Now, nearly a month since Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor entered the world, plans are likely starting to form for her christening, which is a hallowed tradition among newborn royals in England. However, since January 2020, when Meghan and Harry announced that they would be stepping back from their roles as working royals, the atmosphere has been tense between the royal family in England and the Sussexes in California. Harry and Meghan’s recent criticisms of the royal family have only seemed to widen this rift.

Given these internal dynamics, Harry and Meghan’s home in the U.S. and the coronavirus pandemic, Lilibet’s coronation might not be as conventional and traditional as some in the royal family might have hoped. Although there has yet to be an official announcement, it seems unlikely that Harry and Meghan will travel to England for the christening, which is a break from tradition. Archie, for example, was baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Windsor Castle, wearing the same christening gown that Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and Prince George wore. But if Harry and Meghan don’t want to travel — a coronavirus vaccine notably isn’t available for children under 12 — then they may have to forgo the traditional setting, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s presence and the christening gown.

Ann Gripper and Russell Myers, co-hosts of the royals podcast Pod Save the Queen, argue that Lilibet might not make it to the U.K. until Christmas — or even Trooping the Colour in June 2022.

 “Who knows when they will all get to meet? Between family rows and a global pandemic, it doesn’t make travel very easy,” Gripper said.

Myers replied, “Probably next Trooping maybe. Christmas maybe? Maybe they could make it over for Christmas.”

In an interview with Express, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam said that it’s unlikely they will follow typical royal christening protocol.

"They waited two days before revealing news of Lili’s birth. Expect them to handle the christening in their own time and in their own way, almost certainly in California,” he explained.

If the christening does indeed happen in the U.S., then it’s unlikely that Lilibet will be able to wear the royal gown that has been passed down for generations. Queen Victoria made the first christening gown for her firstborn in 1841, according to Express. In total, 62 royal babies wore the gown — including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William and Harry — before a replica was made due to the garments’ fragility. Archie, now 2, wore the copy of the gown at his christening as did the Cambridge kids: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“It is with great joy that Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, welcome their daughter, Lilibet ‘Lili’ Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, to the world. Lili was born on Friday, June 4 at 11:40 a.m. in the trusted care of the doctors and staff at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA,” the official statement of Lilibet's birth read.

Harry and Meghan released a message of thanks in addition to the official press release.

“On June 4th, we were blessed with the arrival of our daughter, Lili. She is more than we could have ever imagined, and we remain grateful for the love and prayers we’ve felt from across the globe. Thank you for your continued kindness and support during this very special time for our family,” the couple wrote.

Shortly thereafter, Buckingham Palace released a statement.

“The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been informed and are delighted with the news of the birth of a daughter for The Duke and Duchess of Sussex,” the statement read read.

Leading up to their second child’s birth, Meghan was relatively private, staying out of the public eye and refusing to reveal her daughter’s due date. The duchess also decided not to have a baby shower. According to US Weekly, Meghan didn’t feel such a celebration would be appropriate amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Meghan and Harry are also unlikely to have another child based on what they’ve said in the past.

“To have any one or any two, but to have a boy and then a girl — what more could you ask for?” Harry told Oprah Winfrey in March. “But now we've got our family. We've got the four of us, we've got our two dogs. Done.”

“Done — two is it?” Oprah asked.

“Two is it,” Meghan confirmed.

As for Meghan and Harry’s decision regarding Lilibet’s christening, only time will tell how the family decides to proceed.

How do you think Lilibet’s christening will unfold? Will it happen in the U.K. or the U.S.? Let us know — and pass this story on to friends and family members.