Royal baby christening: Couple’s decision to keep celebration private sparks criticism

'They have to give the public something'

Harry and Meghan at a recent baseball game in London. (Getty Images)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s decision to withhold details from the public about Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor’s christening has sparked criticism.

Buckingham Palace announced that Harry and Meghan would have a private celebration for their two-month-old son and would not reveal the identities of his godparents.

While some royal commentators and members of the public have praised the couple for subverting protocol and maintaining their privacy, others have argued that they owe it to the UK population to share the celebration with them.

“They have to give the public something,” one person wrote one person Twitter. “We are paying them and it feels like they do not care about the public.”

Another added: “If they want Archie to be a ‘private citizen’ then why do it in a royal chapel with Archbishop of Canterbury and not in a local church with a normal vicar?”

Many pointed out that £2.4m of taxpayers’ money will be spent renovating their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage.

“These two are becoming more and more precious,” tweeted one person.

“Being part of the firm means opening yourself up to the nation. Perhaps they would like to remove themselves from the Civil List and pay back the £2.4m spent by the taxpayer on their ‘cottage’?”

Another concurred: “It beggars belief that after they asked us, the taxpayer, to fund the “basic” refurbishment of their “cottage” for a cool £2.5m, they now wish to have the anonymity of the common man. #royalchristening”.

Royal biographer Penny Junor told The Times that Harry and Meghan “can’t have it both ways”.

“Either they are totally private, pay for their own house and disappear out of view, or play the game the way it is played,” she said.

Labour MP Luke Pollard also argued that the couple’s behaviour was dubious.

“When you’re still taking millions of pounds worth of public money – money that could be spent in schools and hospitals – to upgrade and refurbish what is, you know, luxury palaces, you’ve got to ask yourself: what are the public getting in return?” he told CNN.

Other's disagreed, with some arguing that Meghan and Harry deserve privacy just like any other couple.

Royal commentator Omid Scobie told The Independent that the decision “seems fair”.

He said: “Ultimately this is a private christening for a citizen who will remain private until he is in a position to choose for himself.

“Until then, his parents — who are both public figures — will continue to share their own two lives with the world. Seems fair to me.”

Some people expressed a similar view on Twitter, with one person pointing out that Archie is a private citizen with no title.

They added: “The Sussexes right to privacy as a family should be respected”.

Another argued that Harry and Meghan do plenty to give back the public through various philanthropic projects that cover everything from mental health to environmentalism.

In light of this, “what benefits would names of godparents provide you?” they asked.

For everything you need to know about the royal baby’s christening, click here.