Harry, Meghan share photos of Archie’s christening
At 2months old, the newest member of the royal family, Archie, has more than just an aristocratic bloodline going for him — he has developed a worldwide social media presence. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave the world a glimpse of their infant son Saturday after he was christened at a private chapel in Windsor Castle. They shared photos of him on social media with adoring royal watchers around the globe.
The Most Rev. Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, officiated at the service, according to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were joined by a small number of family members.
Photos of the couple with Archie, who is seventh in line to the throne, received more than 1.9million “likes” on Instagram on Saturday. One image showed the proud parents flanked by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — Prince William and Kate Middleton — and by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Green Drawing Room at the castle, along with Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland. Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah Mccorquodale, the sisters of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, are also in the photo. Another image, in black and white, showed Archie cradled by his parents in the Rose Garden at the castle. “I think they’re wonderful P.R. for the monarchy,” said Natalie Pray, a former president of the St. George’s Society of New York, a nonprofit organization named for the patron saint of England.
The charity provides financial support and other services to disadvantaged older adults and individuals with disabilities who are of British and Commonwealth heritage, as well as scholarships to students. Chris Allerton, the fashion photographer who took portraits of Harry and Meghan at their wedding in 2018, captured the images of the christening.
Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, did not attend the ceremony. Archie does not automatically qualify for the title of prince under the British monarchy’s arcane rules of succession, but he could assume the title if Prince Charles becomes king. Harry and Meghan have eschewed royal titles for their son, including the title of Earl of Dumbarton.