Some of Prince Harry’s family members ‘WERE at Princess Lilibet’s christening’

Princess Diana’s older sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, were present at Princess Lilibet’s christening, according to reports.

Prince Harry’s two aunts on his mother’s side were said to be among the 20-30 guests at the ‘intimate’ ceremony and following party which was held at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Montecito mansion. 

Earlier this week Prince Harry, 38 and Meghan Markle, 41, confirmed in a statement that Princess Lilibet’s christening had taken place the previous Friday.

While precious few details have been released about the christening ceremony, one thing that has stood out to royal fans is that senior members of the royal family had been invited but were not present. However, it has now been reported that the other side of the Duke’s family were represented at the ceremony and party.

After People magazine revealed some details about the party, including that four-year-old Prince Archie danced with his sister while songs were played from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex‘s wedding, royal journalist and friend of the Sussexes Omid Scobie added the guest list was missing four senior royals. 

Lady Sarah McCorquodale (left) and Lady Jane Fellowes (pictured with Earl Spencer) were reportedly present at Princess Lilibet Diana’s christening, according to Marie Claire. The older sisters of Princess Diana were thought to be among the 20-30 guests at the 21-month-old’s christening and subsequent party which was held at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Montecito mansion 

He posted on Twitter: ‘King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate were invited but didn’t attend.’

However, Marie Claire reported that the other side of Prince Harry’s family was represented at the party, with his aunts in attendance.

It is not clear when the Duke of Sussex last saw his aunts, although they have been present at his important life events along with Prince Harry’s uncle, Earl Spencer. 

Both Harry and William have remained close with their aunts and uncle on their mother’s side since the death of Princess Diana in 1997.

The Duke of Sussex was last pictured alongside his aunts in 2021 when he and the Prince of Wales joined together to unveil a statue of their late mother at Kensington Palace.

Princess Lilibet Diana (pictured on her first birthday at Frogmore Cottage), was christened last Friday

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex released a statement confirming Lilibet’s christening and called her ‘Princess Lilibet Diana’ which prompted Buckingham Palace to update her title on its website to Princess Lilibet of Sussex

Both Harry and William were pictured warmly greeting Lady Sarah and Lady Jane with kisses and hugs.

Last week, his aunts were reportedly among a guest list of around 20-30 including Princess Lilibet’s godfather Tyler Perry, who loaned the Sussexes his $18million (£15million) Beverly Hills mansion in 2020.

Another guest reported to have been at the party was Doria Ragland, Meghan’s mother, who plays a big part in family life for the Sussexes as revealed in their Netflix documentary Harry & Meghan.

Other details of the party are scant, but People magazine reported that the ceremony was hosted by Reverend John Taylor, last Friday.

They were serenaded by a gospel choir, who are believed to have performed Oh Happy Day and This Little Light of Mine — a song that was played at Meghan and Harry’s wedding.

Meanwhile an insider revealed that after the ceremony, ‘attendees were treated to an afternoon of food and dancing — with Archie enjoying a dance with his little sister!’ 

Details of the warm ceremony may be seen to reflect Prince Harry’s disclosure last weekend that he ‘smothers’ his children with affection.

In an interview with controversial therapist Gabor Mate, the Duke said: ‘It leaves me in position now, as a father to two kids of my own, making sure that I smother them with love and affection.’

He had been referring to claims he made in his bombshell memoir Spare that the Royal Family did not often physically touch one another.

It is perhaps no surprise that the couple hosted the party in their own home, as Meghan has previously discussed her attachment to the property as ‘free’ and full of ‘joy’.

Not many details have been given about decorations at the party, although Harry and Meghan’s mansion is reported to be kitted out with chic Soho House candles and the couple boast a grand piano in their sitting room, which was gifted to them by Perry.

Speaking in an interview with The Cut last year, Meghan said of her home: ‘We did everything we could to get this house. Because you walk in and go… Joy. And exhale. And calm. It’s healing. You feel free.’

One of the first features that Meghan and Harry saw was two palm trees, connected together at the bottom, which the Duke claimed represented the loved-up couple.

‘And now every day when Archie goes by us, he says, “Hi, Momma. Hi, Papa,”‘ explained the Duchess.

Following the announcement of Princess Lilibet Diana’s christening, questions were raised about whether or not the youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex really was titled ‘princess’.

After the Sussexes released a statement claiming it was her ‘birth right’ to hold the title, Buckingham Palace revealed it would update both Lilibet and Archie’s titles on its website. 

Within hours, the titles were updated and they were named as Prince Archie of Sussex and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. The line of succession was also updated to reflect their positions as sixth and seventh in line to the throne, behind their father Prince Harry.