Why the Queen is entitled to snub Archie’s christening

She showed up to see Kate and Wills’ children get doused in holy water, but the Queen has confirmed she will not attend Archie’s baptism next month.

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Christenings are usually dull affairs. There is an early-morning church service, a lot of polite conversation with someone’s simpering aunt and then a dried-out finger sandwich and warm glass of sparkling as due reward. Unless, of course, your surname is Windsor.

Royal christenings are glamorous occasions. Someone is dispatched to the Tower of London to fetch a font that is part of the $4 billion Crown Jewels collection, water is brought in from the River Jordan, the Archbishop of Canterbury is on hand and you get to see Kate’s shiny blow dry up close.

Come early July, it is young Master Archie Mountbatten Windsor’s turn. Expect a decent celebrity faction, Meghan in couture (I bet at Givenchy, Claire Wright Keller or one of her staffers is sewing as we speak) and Harry looking proud as punch. (Not to mention our first thoroughly decent look at Archie.)

However, there will be one glaring absence. While the rest of the royal family will turn up en masse, Buckingham Palace has confirmed the Queen won’t be attending.

Meghan and Harry at the Trooping of the Colour earlier this month. Picture: Daniel Leal-Olivas / AFP

This is a very curious state of affairs. For one thing, surely if you are planning a Windsor Baby Dunking, the first thing you would check before you started ordering the mini quiches for the reception is if the head of the family is able to attend.

Secondly, the royal family has an entire unit on hand just for these sorts of scenarios. The Co-ordination and Research Unit was launched decades ago, the whole point of which is to ensure that diaries are co-ordinated and events don’t clash.

The Queen attended the christenings of both Prince George and Princess Charlotte, however was reportedly “incredibly relaxed” about Louis’ big day, choosing to give it a miss. She also attended Mia and Lena Tindall’s christenings.

The Queen attended Prince George’s christening. Picture: Jason Bell/Camera Press/Australscope

Her Majesty at Princess Charlotte’s christening. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

So, what are we to make of Her Majesty’s glaring lack of presence?

It would be easy to interpret this as a blunt slight on the Sussexes. Having the Queen firmly hit “not attending” on the (I’m guessing) Paperless Post e-vite could take a bit of a toll on the old ego. However, this news comes only a day after it was revealed the Queen is planning quite the lovely big day for Meghan.

On August 4, she will hit the big 3-8. She will celebrate by enjoying a jaunt to the Queen’s beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland, which is widely known to be her favourite property and the place she feels most at home.

The Queen has previously appeared to get on famously with Meghan. Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

There, she and Harry will enjoy their own private wing and mark Meghan’s birthday with a special afternoon tea with her majesty. The Sun reports it is most likely the castle’s staff who will rustle up a special cake for the birthday girl and all.

So, the curious case of the Queen and the not-quite slight. She currently has official events listed on July 3 (a garden party) and July 9 (a visit to Cambridgeshire which, sadly is not a euphemism for popping around to Kate and Wills’ for a gin and tonic).

Maybe by the time you get to your 90s, you get to be a bit more selective about where and when you turn up to cuddle a newborn. And also given Archie lives in Windsor, she can turn up for a cuddle any time she wants — without the flash of cameras and everyone watching your every move.

Daniela Elser is a royal expert and freelance writer. Continue the conversation @DanielaElser