Duchess Meghan + Prince Harry: Lilibet Diana’s baptism in England should be off the table

Duchess Meghan, 40, and Prince Harry, 37, will probably not have their daughter Lilibet Diana baptized at Windsor Castle in the presence of the royal family. This is what sources from Buckingham Palace claim to “The Telegraph”. According to this, the Sussexes are said to have decided to allow their second-born child to receive the Christian sacrament in California. “In Great Britain there will be no baptism. It will not happen,” said an insider. Another said more cautiously that it was “very unlikely”.

Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry could have Lilibet baptized by a cherished friend

Instead, the duke couple is considering celebrating the ceremony in the Episcopal Church of the US, it is said. This is a member church of the worldwide Anglican Fellowship and is presided over by Bishop Michael Curry, 68, who delivered a high-profile sermon at the couple’s wedding in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor in 2018. Meghan and Harry are very attached to the church man. So your choice is not surprising. However, it has a catch: a baptism in the USA means that Lilibet is not automatically a member of the Church of England. Will the great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, 95, please?

However, nothing is lost. Lilibet can still join the Church if she does live in England and as a member of the royal family wishes to answer the call of tradition. One thing, however, cannot be delayed: a first meeting with her great-grandmother. But that seems to be moving further and further away.

Did Prince William torpedo a baptism in England?

As has now been announced, Harry and his small family will not fly to England for a celebration in honor of his mother Princess Diana, † 36. A spokeswoman for the prince confirmed this to the “Daily Mail”. However, he failed to provide any further explanation.

There is now speculation in England whether Prince William, 39, has a hand in changing the baptism plans for his niece. Apparently the Sussexes were on fire for a ceremony in Windsor. It’s easy to imagine, because the royal family is said to have only seen the little one in the video call so far. Baptism would be the perfect occasion for peaceful family reunification. But Harry’s brother allegedly disagreed with that, as the NBC Royal expert claims to the “Express”: “Prince William was the one who actually said: ‘No, we don’t think this will work, that’s not one good idea'”.

Archie’s baptism harbored traditions, but also unfortunate decisions

This reunion could probably build bridges. When their firstborn Archie was baptized in the private chapel at Windsor Castle, Harry and Meghan impressively demonstrated their sense of the family. Only 25 guests were invited to the intimate celebration on July 6, 2019, almost exclusively family members. The late Diana played a major role in the ceremony. Meghan and Archie took a seat at the official baptism photos on the green padded bench on which the former Princess of Wales posed with her youngest on December 21, 1984 for the court photographer on the occasion.

The publication of the photos was a small, valuable concession the Sussexes made to the public, but it did not hide their reluctance to reveal their privacy. To date, the couple have still not confirmed the names of their son’s godparents. A break with the royal tradition, which requires that their identity be revealed no later than the morning before the baptism.

A decision that did not go down well with everyone. “Baptism should never be private. It is a public demonstration of God’s love, “said Chelmsford Dean Nicholas Henshall in an interview with the BBC.” It is inappropriate. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex receive the ‘Sovereign Grant’. Your son is not a ‘private citizen’; his godparents are of the public interest and are responsible for his spiritual well-being, “said Professor Adrian Hilton, professor of political philosophy at the University of Surrey.

Baptism in the US corresponds to the Sussexes’ desire for more privacy

A controversy that is believed to have left its mark on the Sussexes. The couple have deliberately withdrawn as senior royals in order to allow themselves and their children a more private life. The baptism of little Lilibet Diana in the USA would therefore be quite consistent. “It seems certain that your baptism will take place in Meghan’s home state and under secrecy, but without the controversy about Archie’s baptism,” Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliam told the Express in August 2021. The couple will “do things their own way” with their youngest.

Sources used: telegraph.co.uk, daily-mail.co.uk, nbc.com, bbc.co.uk, espress.co.uk

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