Proud parents the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have finally revealed baby Archie in christening photographs on Instagram after a top secret ceremony in Windsor today.
The royal couple shared the snap from the event with their near 9 million followers, posting they felt ‘so happy to share the joy of this day with members of the public’ and thanking supporters for their kindness.
Meghan, 34, and Prince Harry, 37, posed for photographs alongside the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.
In a touching tribute to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale were at the forefont of the picture.
The royal couple have faced growing backlash surrounding the event, as they insisted it be kept private, despite recently billing the public £2.4million to renovate Frogmore cottage.
This official christening photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shows the Duke and Duchess with their son, Archie and (left to right) the Duchess of Cornwall, The Prince of Wales, Ms Doria Ragland, Lady Jane Fellowes, Lady Sarah McCorquodale, The Duke of Cambridge and The Duchess of Cambridge in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle
Meghan and Harry posed with adorable Archie Harrison in a gorgeous black and white picture
Finally baby Archie’s face is revealed! The stunning snap shows off the adorable royal, with the newborn royal held by mother Meghan Markle
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to share the happiness of this day, and would like to thank everyone around the world for their ongoing support. They feel so fortunate to have enjoyed this special moment with family and Archie’s godparents.’
Princess Diana’s sisters Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale stood proudly alongside Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland and Prince Charles.
Senior royals including Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton were among the 25 guests at the intimate ceremony today.
The Duchess of Sussex was wearing one of her favourite designers Dior, while The Duchess of Cambridge opted for Stella McCartney.
Harry’s former nanny Tiggy Legge Bourke was among the guests at the private event today, and was seen driving away from Windsor Castle.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, pictured with baby Archie in May shortly after his birth, have been determined to keep the christening private
The service took place in a tiny chapel inside Windsor Castle, with many of the guests arriving discreetly by a back entrance to the grounds.
The royal couple have refused to reveal who their son’s godparents are despite billing the public £2.4million for renovations to Frogmore cottage.
A handful of royals fans gathered in Windsor for the event and, though excited, some suggested they have been left ‘disappointed’ that the public will not get to see any of the private ceremony or find out who has been chosen as godparents.
Mystery surrounded the private event, with the royal couple refusing to allow media into the event, and using a royal loophole to avoid telling public who had been chosen as godparents.
Several experts suggested it was a disappointing move, and would upset those who loved the couple the most.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, suggested Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan Markle, 37, had ‘really upset the people who loved them the most’ with the move, telling the Daily Express they had ‘misinterpreted the whole situation’.
One royal expert suggested that Prince Harry and Meghan were at risk of ‘really upsetting those who loved them the most’ with privacy around the christening
Prince Harry’s former nanny Tiggy Legge Bourke was among the 25 guests at the private event in Windsor today, sparking speculation she could be one of Archie’s godparents
Baby Archie will wear a gown based on an 1841 version for Queen Victoria’s first child
At his christening today baby Archie wore a Honiton lace and white satin gown modelled on the version first used for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter.
Made in 1841, the gown was worn by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry before it was taken out of use after Lady Louise Windsor’s baptism in 2004.
Prince George pictured wearing the same gown in October 2013
A replica was then made by the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly, that Prince Archie will use today.
It has previously been worn by his cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
And it was first used in 2008 for the christening of James, Viscount of Severn.
Seward went on to reveal: ‘The secrecy and evasiveness of the whole situation has been so mismanaged. It’s a real shame.’
Archie, who was born in May, was set to wear the handmade replica of the royal christening robe, made by the Queen’s dressmaker Angela Kelly, during the ceremony.
The Lily Font, commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the baptism of their first child Victoria, Princess Royal, in 1841, was expected to have been used, as was water from the River Jordan.
The couple once again turned to fashion photographer Chris Allerton, who took their wedding photographs, to capture the moment.
Mr Allerton was set to take the official christening photos in Windsor Castle’s green drawing room and the pictures will be released later, Buckingham Palace said.
The date for Archie’s christening had to be pushed back by two days, after his parents discovered that both the Queen and Prince Charles had prior engagements on the first date.
While the Queen has bowed out graciously in order to spend a long planned weekend with Prince Philip in Sandringham, after a family conference it was decided that the date should be moved to accommodate Prince Charles.
He was away in Wales on the previously planned date to celebrate 50 years of him being Prince of the country.
Although her majesty has not been able to attend all of her great-grandchildren’s christenings, having missed Prince Louis’s baptism last year, it is understood that she would have like to be present for Prince Harry’s big celebration with his first child.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly shunned celebrities as godparents, instead turning to a close group of friends who played a key role at their wedding.
Prince William and Kate Middleton were seen discreetly arriving at the rear entrance of Windsor Castle ahead of the occasion
It has emerged in recent days that the couple are using a royal loophole to ensure baby Archie’s godparents remain a secret.
Under Church of England rules, the details of all baptisms, including the baby’s godparents, are a matter of public record and can be obtained easily for a small fee.
Royal sources have said that Meghan and Harry picked ‘close and old friends’ for the roles amid a backlash over the royal couple’s refusal to identify them because they are ‘private citizens’.
The royal photographer who will capture Archie’s christening
Photographer and former soldier Chris Allerton will capture shots of Archie’s christening today, having previous taken private photographs for Meghan and Harry.
Allerton is said to have formed a close bond with the couple, having taken private pictures during Archie’s photocall as well as the royal wedding.
He is said to have developed his first roll of film at just eight years old and according to his website ‘has been hooked on photography since’.
Allerton left the British Army in 2001 and went on to Lichfield Studios in Notting Hill.
One of the shots taken at Archie’s photocall (left) looked extremely similar to the one the couple used on their official Christmas card (right)
It was here that he learnt the skills needed to master professional photography. He now travels all over the world and has clients such as Harpers Bazaar, Tatler and broadsheet newspapers.
After taking photos at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May last year, Allerton posted his thanks to the couple.
He said: ‘It was a great honour to be asked to photograph The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding day in May. I am delighted that Their Highnesses chose this photograph for their Christmas card.’
The couple used their SussexRoyal account to post the photographs taken by Chris Allerton
Allerton had previous studies at the University of Reading, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Prior to that he attended the prestigious Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.
In 1992 he started his Army career and served there until 2001. During his time in the Army he worked for the Household Cavalry.
He was commissioned into The Life Guards, Household Cavalry, before serving in Bosnia in 1994 and Singapore and Argentina in 1995.
In the second snap the couple look adoringly at their new arrival, named Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor
His last posting was in 1998 at the Adjutant New College at The Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. He resigned commission in 2000.
In 2001 he started work as a photographic director for Photographic Records. He worked there for over two years.
He then decided to start his own company Allerton Photography, which has offices in both London and Wiltshire.