ROYAL fans will not get to witness Archie Harrison’s christening set to take place next weekend after parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry “demanded a private baptism.”
Despite having funded the couples wedding, reportedly costing as much as £40 million, as well as the £2.4 million revamp of Frogmore cottage, taxpayers will be kept in the dark when it comes to the event.
According to The Times the couple are determined to keep their son a “private citizen”, with sources confirming that they plan a media-free baptism.
Archie Harrison is likely to be christened next weekend at St George’s Chapel, where his parents were married and Harry was baptised back in 1984.
Fabulous Digital has contacted the Palace who declined to comment.
Royal author Penny Juror has criticised the couple's decision dubbing it as a "mistake" after they came under fire for spending £2.4 million of the public's money on doing up Frogmore Cottage, claiming they "can't have it both ways."
She told The Times: "They can't have it both ways. Either they are totally private, pay for their own house and disappear out of view or play the game the way it is played.
"Seeing Archie and his godparents arriving at the christening is what people are interested in."
And it seems that the public is in agreement, taking to Twitter to share their disappointment over the couple's decision.
One wrote: "Wrong move – if the Sussexes want Archie to be a 'private citizen' then they should have paid for their own house and disappear from public life altogether."
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Agreeing another tweeted: "All this 'we want privacy but happy to be funded by taxpayers' is doing my head in!"
A third tweeted the palace directly asking: "Please explain why the public are paying tax to the Sussexes to continue dictating a private life at our expense?
"If they want a private life we shouldn't be paying for them."
It is certainly a break from royal tradition with Prince William and Kate Middleton inviting the media to the christening of all three of their children, keeping only the ceremony itself private.
Archie – who was born on May 6 – will be two months old when he's doused from the lily font with water from the River Jordan.
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall are said to be leading the party, alongside Kate Middleton and Prince William.
But there's one important person who won't be there – the Queen. Prior commitments mean she'll have to give it a miss.
This isn't the first time the Queen has skipped a great-grandchild's baptism.
While she attended Prince George and Princess Charlotte's christenings, she wasn't able to attend Prince Louis' last year.
Archie's baptism is thought to be following in royal tradition, with the tot wearing a replica of the Honiton lace gown.
The original piece was commissioned by Queen Victoria for the christening of her first child Princess Victoria in 1841.
It was worn by 62 royal babies – including Harry and William, 36 – but a replica was made after the Queen decided it had become too fragile.
The service is expected to be conducted by the Dean of Windsor, the Rev David Conner and the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Rumoured godparents include Meghan's best friend Jessica Mulroney, American designer Misha Nonoo and Harry's school friends Alexander Gilkes and Jake Warren.
In other royal news, we revealed that Meghan and Harry have splashed out up to £5,000 on a copper bath for Frogmore Cottage.
And a royalist claims that Harry and Meghan have "shot themselves in the foot" with their Frogmore refurbishment.
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