Prince Harry Baptised at St George’s Chapel, Windsor

On 21/12/1984, Prince Henry Charles Albert David, now known as Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, was baptised at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. The ceremony took place three months after his birth on 15/09/1984 at St Mary’s Hospital in London. It was conducted by Robert Runcie, who was serving as Archbishop of Canterbury at the time, in accordance with traditions of the Church of England and the British royal family. The christening followed established royal customs, with members of the royal family and invited guests in attendance. St George’s Chapel has long been used for significant royal ceremonies, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. Prince Harry, the second son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, was baptised using the Lily Font, a historic silver gilt font traditionally used for royal christenings since the 19th century. A notable aspect of this event was its media coverage. The ceremony was filmed and later broadcast to the public, with footage shown a few days afterward alongside Queen Elizabeth II’s annual Christmas message. This marked a departure from earlier royal christenings, which had been more private, reflecting evolving approaches to public engagement by the royal family during the late 20th century.