Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Chose Not Announce Archie's Godparents

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

From Town & Country

Today marks Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor’s christening, an intimate ceremony that will take place in the private chapel at Windsor Castle. The service is being conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury and images, taken by photographer Chris Allerton, will be released later this afternoon. But unlike previous royal christenings, the names of the baby’s godparents will not be announced, with Buckingham Palace describing this choice as "in keeping with [the family's] wishes."

Royal babies usually have around six godparents although the exact number can vary (George has seven and Charlotte has five). The couple are understood to have chosen close friends, but not ones with large profiles such as the Clooneys or Serena Williams. Likely names include Benita Litt, whose daughters Remi and Rylan were bridesmaids at Harry and Meghan’s wedding, as well as Meghan’s university friends Lindsay Roth and Genevieve Hills, who appeared with her at Wimbledon on Thursday.

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

On Harry’s side, those tipped for the position include his mentor Mark Dyer and his close friend Jake Warren. Other possibilities are Diana’s friend Julia Samuel, who is also godparent to Prince George, or one of the late princess’s three siblings.

Protecting the privacy of their friends who do not court the spotlight is something Harry and Meghan have spoken about previously. For example, they declined to name the friend who set them up on a blind date. During their engagement interview, when they were asked how they met, Meghan said, "We should protect her privacy and not reveal too much of that."

Initially it was suggested that the public would be able to find out the names of Archie’s godparents anyway via something called the Parochial Registers and Records Measure 1978. The measure, passed by the Church of England, requires baptisms to be a matter of public record, with a section to fill out the names of godparents. However, it turns out that the register for the chapel is held privately by the royal household and will not be made public.

The couple's choice not to name Archie’s godparents, along with the fact that media is not being allowed to cover family and guests' arrivals at the christening ceremony, have earned the Sussexes some criticism. (Prince William and Kate Middleton, in contrast, allowed the press to cover the arrivals at the christening of their three children). Specifically, Harry and Meghan have been accused of wanting to "have their cake and eat it too," insisting on a private ceremony while living in an official residence, Frogmore Cottage, that was recently renovated with £2.4 million of public money.

Photo credit: GOR - Getty Images
Photo credit: GOR - Getty Images

In reality, the Sussexes aren't so much breaking with royal convention as tweaking it. Royal christening services have always been private, and Meghan and Harry will release images to mark the occasion afterwards. But their decisions have sparked a debate about what prominent royals should be expected to share with the public who fund them.

Do people have the right to expect access to and information about milestone moments-and which ones? Or are official engagements and duties the only things that royals should be obliged to do publicly for the funding they receive?

Furthermore, to whom do the requirements and expectations extend? Harry and Meghan are working royals but Archie is not and is unlikely to ever be.

Despite the controversy, there is a huge amount of public support for Harry and Meghan and their choice to bring Archie up away from the glare of the spotlight. But whether that support will extend to their desire for privacy around major milestone moments is less clear. The delight with which their christening photos will be received is proof that the public-particularly their ardent fans-is eager for a window into their life as a family.

Archie is expected to be wearing the royal christening gown which is a replica of one created for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter in 1841, and Chris Allerton, who also photographed Archie’s debut when he was two days old and took pictures at the Sussexes’ wedding, will undoubtedly secure himself a few more front pages with this round of snapshots.

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