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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Bradley Jolly

Harry's family members DID attend daughter Princess Lilibet's christening

Some of Prince Harry's close family did attend Princess Lilibet's christening, it has been claimed.

The royal welcomed his aunts, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale - the sisters of the late Princess Diana - at the small, intimate ceremony in Montecito, California.

But senior members of the royal family, including King Charles and Prince William, were unable to attend the event.

However, both Harry and William have remained close with their aunts and uncle on their mother's side since Diana's death in 1997.

And Marie Claire understands they were both present last week, alongside around 20 other guests.

Lady Jane gave an emotional reading from the Song of Solomon at Harry's wedding to Meghan in 2018.

Lilibet, now aged 21 months, was christened on Friday March 3 (PA)
Harry, pictured with Meghan, had family members present at the service (PA)

The Duke of Sussex was last pictured alongside his aunts in 2021 when he unveiled a statue of his late mother alongside his brother, William. The two brothers were seen greeting their aunts with a kiss during the ceremony at Kensington Palace.

While Lilibet's baptism was very different to her cousin's Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, it saw a 10-person gospel choir perform songs, including This Little Light of Mine - Harry and Meghan's wedding song at their 2018 ceremony.

The christening happened on Friday March 3 but was only confirmed five days later on International Women's Day.

A spokesperson for the Sussexes said: "I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Bishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor."

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle welcomed guests at the christening of their daughter last week (SplashNews.com)
Harry and William kiss their aunts at a previous ceremony (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Actor Tyler Perry, who flew in the choir, was named as Lilibet's godparent.

It is the first time Lili has been publicly referred to as Princess. She became entitled to become a princess when her grandfather King Charles acceded to the throne.

The rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Harry and Meghan's older son Archie and Lili, as the children of a son of a sovereign, are automatically a prince and a princess and also now have an HRH style if they choose to use it.

However, it is understood Lili's title of princess and Archie's title as a prince will be used in formal settings, but not in everyday conversational use by the couple.

This has yet to be updated on the royal family website, with the children still referred to as miss and master.

Harry and Meghan are understood to be keen to not deny their children their birth-right, but to allow them the chance to decide for themselves when older whether to drop or keep using the titles.

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