Harry does not want his daughter Lilibet to be the only royal to be christened outside the UK, although the decision may not be in his hands.
Lilibet “Lili” Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, Harry and Meghan’s second child , is now 10 weeks old. During his return to the UK to attend the unveiling of a statue of his late mother Diana in early July, Harry expressed his wish for Lilibet to be baptised in Windsor with Queen Elizabeth II present. However, the couple’s ongoing feud with the royal family, as well as travel restrictions due to the pandemic, have made this wish difficult to come true.
As a result, US news sites have suggested the Sussexes may opt for a “micro” christening for their second child in California without any royals in attendance – a plan that is said to have left Kate heartbroken after her efforts to reconcile Harry and William.
However, a royal source has now revealed to Life & Style magazine that Prince Harry is still keen for the ceremony to take place in the UK – even though the Queen may not allow it.
“While he loves Meghan and is committed to his new family, Harry is still British at heart. He doesn’t want Lili to be the only royal in the country’s history to be baptized outside the UK,” a source told the magazine.
Meanwhile, the report also said that the Queen is “under pressure” to refuse to hold a royal christening for Lilibet. “She adores Harry and has spoiled him. But it looks like Harry and Meghan are finally going to have to be ‘shouted’,” the source added.
Gertrude Daly, who runs the website Gerts Royal Replies , told the Daily Star : “I fully expect Lilibet to be baptised in England at some point. One of the requirements for being in the line of succession is to be Protestant. And to be a monarch, you must be in ‘communion with the Church of England’. The rules of succession don’t spell it out, they don’t say you have to be baptised or confirmed in the Church by a certain age, as long as you haven’t been baptised or confirmed in another religion you can still be in the line of succession.”
“However, as the Queen is head of the Church of England, I expect the Sussexes to christen Lilibet in the UK. That could happen in the autumn. Or they could postpone their trip to the UK until later. There is no time limit. Princess Eugenie was not christened until she was nine months old. But if they want Lilibet to fit into a traditional royal christening dress, they will need to come to the UK this autumn,” Gertrude Daly added.
Daily Star has contacted representatives of Prince Harry and Meghan as well as the Queen to ask about this issue.