However, beneath the surface of what seemed like a joyous celebration of a touching family event, the picture taken that day hinted at simmering tensions within the royal family.
On July 6th, 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, proud and loving parents, observed as their two-month-old baby boy was baptized in a private chapel in Wintercast. While christenings typically involve the presence of senior royals, this particular event saw some notable absences.
The selected press photographers, who usually capture the family's arrival and departure, were excluded. Most surprising of all, Queen Elizabeth II herself did not attend.
Officially, it was explained that the queen had a prior commitment, which raised eyebrows at the time. However, it's worth noting that she also did not attend Prince Louis' christening in 2018. According to journalists Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett in their book, "Royals at War," the queen's absence carried a deeper meaning linked to the family's underlying conflicts.
The authors claim that the christening took place amidst years of tensions between the queen and her grandson and his American wife. The book suggests that the monarch's decision not to attend this milestone event was a deliberate message. Howard and Tillett write pointedly, "The queen and Prince Philip stayed away. They had been generous in understanding at their best, but they simply now felt publicly embarrassed by Meghan's controlling behavior," said a well-placed palace insider.
The relationship between the queen and the former "Suits" star had already faced scrutiny at this point. Court documents released in 2020 from Meghan's privacy lawsuit against the parent company of the Daily Mail reignited public interest. Meghan claimed that she was left undefended by the institution during her pregnancy with Archie and was prohibited from defending herself against negative and false reporting.
Despite their announcement in January 2020 to step down as senior royals, Harry and Meghan continued to create PR challenges for the palace, including their unsuccessful battle to use the word "Royal" in their overseas branding.
