Members of the Royal Family are unlikely to attend Lilibet’s christening if Meghan Markle and Prince Harry decide to hold the ceremony in California, a royal expert says.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were originally expected to fly back to Britain to have their daughter baptized at Windsor Castle like their son, Archie.
However, a palace insider said to the Telegraph that a christening in the UK ‘is not happening.’
The four-month-old is likely to be christened into the Episcopal Church of the US.
Meghan and Harry’s decision would make a break in the tradition, making Lilibet the first of the Queen’s grandchildren or great-grandchildren not to receive a royal baptism within the church of England.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward told The Sun that the decision would also mean that it would be unlikely that the Queen, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would go to the US for Lilibet’s christening.
“I don’t think any members of the immediate Royal Family would have time (to fly to the US). Their schedules are organised six months in advance,” Seward said.
If Lilibet is christening in the US, the royal expert said that ‘maybe’ Harry’s friends would fly over.
Lilibet would also not automatically be considered a member of the Church of England if she is baptized in the US but this would have no effect on her standing in the line of succession.
“Harry’s great-grandmother is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England – and Meghan was inducted into the Church of England,” the royal expert continued.
“If they wanted, Harry and Meghan could have it privately in the Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Queen is not going to say no, she may not be able to be there herself but she’s not going to say they can’t have it there.
“The only reason([it would not be held in the UK) would be if Meghan didn’t want to come over here with the baby. That would be the only reason I could think of.”
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