Royal Christening: A historic look back at royal baptisms ahead of Archie’s christening

Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor will be christened on Saturday at Windsor Castle.

The newborn son of Prince Harry, 34, and Meghan Markle, 37, who will be exactly two-months old on the day, is expected to wear the traditional lace and satin christening robe for the intimate ceremony.

The royal gown, which is an exact replica of the one made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter Victoria in 1841, has been worn by royal babies for the past 11 years.

Archie’s cousins, Prince George, five, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one – the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – were all baptised in the outfit.

The first royal baby to wear the new replica christening gown was the Earl and Countess of Wessex’ son Viscount Severn in 2008 – his elder sister Lady Louise, the last to wear the original four years earlier.

The Victorian christening gown was made by made by Janet Sutherland in Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace and was worn by 62 royal babies over 163 years.

Royals who were baptised in the lace dress include the Queen (then Princess Elizabeth) in 1926, Prince Charles in 1948 as well as both Prince William and Prince Harry in the 1980s.

Earlier this week, a statement from Windsor Castle revealed the details of the royal Christening.

It read: “Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor will be christened in a small private ceremony by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday 6th July.”

The announcement continued: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex look forward to sharing some images taken on the day by photographer Chris Allerton.”

“The godparents, keeping with their wishes, will remain private.”