Godparent Drama in the Royal Family: A History of Explosive Choices

It seems that even the Royal Family is not immune to the drama surrounding the selection of godparents. Over the years, there have been several instances of explosive choices and ongoing feuds when it comes to godparent selections in the Royal Family. One such incident occurred in 1977 when Princess Anne chose her brother Charles, then the Prince of Wales, to be the godfather of her first child, Peter Phillips. Charles agreed, adding Peter to his already long list of godchildren.

However, five years later, when Prince William was due to be christened, Charles and Diana surprised Anne by looking elsewhere for a godmother. Rumors suggest that Charles had wanted to invite his sister, but was allegedly blocked by his wife, Diana. Biographer Robert Lacey suggests that Anne's frosty relationship with Diana may have played a role in this decision, with Anne feeling overshadowed by Diana's popularity and public attention.

The tension continued when it was Harry's turn to be christened in 1984. Despite expectations that Anne would be invited as a godparent, she was left out once again. Instead, Prince Andrew and Lady Sarah Armstrong Jones were chosen, along with various other notable individuals. Anne's absence was made clear when she and her husband, Captain Mark Phillips, decided to go shooting rabbits in Gloucestershire, prioritizing the long-established shooting party over the christening ceremony.

More recently, the godparent drama resurfaced during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to keep the names of Archie's godparents private. This decision sparked speculation and intrigue, but it was later revealed that Harry's childhood friend Charlie van Straubenzee, former nanny Tiggy Pettifer, and Mark Dyer, the former equerry to King Charles, had been chosen as Archie's godparents.

The drama surrounding godparent choices in the Royal Family highlights the complexities and tensions that can arise within even the most prestigious of families. From personal feuds to questions of favoritism, the selection of godparents is not a decision taken lightly. As the Royal Family continues to navigate these challenges, one can only wonder what future episodes will unfold in the ongoing saga of godparent choices.