Prince Harry and Meghan drift further away from royal family with christening decision
Montecito, California - Is the split between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the rest of the royal family about to get even worse?
About two months after the birth of baby Lilibet, the Sussexes' daughter was added to the line of heirs to the throne. According to the official website of the royal family, Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor is now eighth in line.
That puts her behind Prince Charles, Prince WillIam and his three children – Princes George, Charlotte, and Louis – Harry himself, as well as his firstborn Archie.
The royals initially had only kind things to say about this latest addition to the family, but all that good will is in danger of going out the window after Harry and Meghan's latest decision.
According to the New Idea, the couple are planning a private christening for their daughter, which would exclude most of Harry's relatives. Only a handful of close friends are reportedly expected to attend.
And this is apparently not the only thing that might rub the royal family the wrong way.
Source says William and Kate not on guest list
The royal insider speaking to New Idea also said that Meghan gave Harry a very special mission before he flew to Britain earlier in July to take part in the unveiling of a statue of his late mother, Princess Diana. She requested that he bring back the royal christening gown for Lilibet's ceremony.
That turned out to be a bridge too far for her husband, who returned to the US empty-handed.
The rift that the pair's American exile has caused is clear, according to the insider. "The Queen loans it to royal babies being christened in England," New Idea cited its source as saying. "There was no way she would let such a priceless item be whisked off to America with Harry or post it there!" In fact, Elizabeth II thought the whole attempt was "pretty cheeky".
Given all this bad blood, it's no wonder Lilibet's christening is staying a non-royal affair. This goes for Prince William and Duchess Kate too, as they're reportedly not on the guest list.
New Idea's source finished the tea spilling on a sour note, saying the former Suits actor "she won’t even let them watch on a Zoom call, probably out of pure spite that they wouldn’t let her have the gown!"
Cover photo: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire