Meghan Markle and Prince Harry had son Archie Harrison on May 6, revealing him to the world two days after he had been born. Ever since that time, the new mum and dad have kept tight-lighted about their son – preferring to maintain their privacy during the early weeks of their baby’s life. The couple have revealed details about the royal christening, including the location, the officiant and the gown to be worn by baby Archie. But why exactly is Meghan Markle’s baby boy wearing a dress for the christening?

Archie Harrison is currently the only child of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

He was born on May 6 of this year, currently making him seven weeks old, and he weighed in at 7lbs 3oz.

Since May 8, when the couple showed off their son at a photoshoot in Windsor, the family as a unit has been entirely absent from the public eye.

The next time they will be pictured all together will be the royal christening – due to take place in July.

Reportedly, baby Archie will be baptised in St George’s Chapel in Windsor, the same venue as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding and where Prince Harry was himself baptised in 1984.

The ceremony is due to be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury – who will use the Lily Font, a silver gilt bowl that has been used for every royal baby since Princess Victoria in 1841.

So what will baby Archie wear?

Archie is expected to follow royal tradition by wearing a replica of the Honiton lace christening gown commissioned by Queen Victoria for the baptism of her first child Princess Victoria in 1841.

The christening gown has been worn by all of the Queen’s great grandchildren and it is expected that baby Archie will be no exception.

The outfit is a replica of a dress that Queen Victoria commissioned for her first-born child, Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa.

That gown was worn by 62 royal babies (including five monarchs) over the course of its 163 years of royal service.

George V, Edward VIII, George VI and the Queen all wore the white lace dress, as did Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry.

The delicate dress had strict care instructions and had to be hand-washed with spring water after each ceremony, before being stored in a dark room.

The Honiton lace was carefully protected over the years, but in 2004, the Queen’s granddaughter Lady Louise Windsor became the last royal to wear the original Honiton gown, after which it was retired.

Angela Kelly, the Queen’s wardrobe advisor, was then enlisted to create a replica, which has been used ever since.

Ms Kelly worked closely with craftsmen in both Britain and Italy to get the dress as close as possible to the original.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were all baptised in the new gown.

The christening gown is understood to be an important tradition with the British royal family and therefore, the dress baby boy Archie will wear will be in order to pay homage to that long-standing tradition and family history.

While many members of the royal family will get a chance to take a look at the newest royal baby wearing the gown, sadly the Queen will not.

She will be away in Balmoral for the summer until late October and is not expected to attend the royal christening of her eighth great grandchild.

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