Baby Sussex, aka Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, has a lifetime of royal tradition ahead of him as the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—even if he's not exactly in line for the throne anytime soon (he's number seven in the line of succession). One of his first milestone events? His royal christening, held today (July 6) in Queen Elizabeth II's private chapel in Windsor Castle.
We knew a fair amount about the formal ceremony heading into the event: that it was planned by new parents Meghan Markle and Prince Harry; that it would be officiated by Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby; and that it would be intensely private. Now the Sussex family has just shared the first (and only) pictures from the private event—and they're almost too sweet for words.
The royal family shared two official photographs from Baby Sussex's christening on Instagram, both taken by royal photographer Chris Allerton. In the first Markle holds Baby Archie on a small sofa with Prince Harry, surrounded by family including Prince Charles, Doria Ragland, Prince William, and Kate Middleton. (Two notable exceptions from the group gathering: the queen herself and Prince Philip, who had a diary conflict and sadly couldn't attend.)
The second slide of the same post shows a more intimate look at the new family: In a black-and-white photo, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry hold Baby Archie between them. Precious.
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It's a quick look at the celebration, but the family's joy is palpable. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are so happy to share the joy of this day with members of the public who have been incredibly supportive since the birth of their son," a portion of the caption says. "They thank you for your kindness in welcoming their first born and celebrating this special moment."
Aside from the darling family vibes, there's also an incredible amount of history in the image. Baby Archie wore a handmade replica of the original royal christening robe for the ceremony, which has been worn by royal infants for the past 11 years. (The original robe was made back in Queen Victoria's day in 1841 and worn by the family's newborns until 2004.)
Baby Archie's christening was far less public than those of his cousins Prince George, Prince Charlotte, and Prince Louis—but this short and sweet glimpse is a welcome window into the family's special day.
Halie LeSavage is a contributing writer at Glamour. Follow her @halielesavage.
