Instagram Chris Allerton
After months of secrecy, a new report by royal correspondent Roya Nikkah for The Sunday Times has revealed the identities of two more of baby Archie’s godparents.
Ahead of Archie’s christening in July last year The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they would be breaking from royal tradition and hold a small private ceremony and keep the identities of their son’s godparents a secret, and while it was revealed that Prince Harry’s childhood friend Charlie van Straubenzee had been chosen as a godfather, there have been no further clues to who else made up the list of godparents, until now.
Almost six months later The Sunday Times has confirmed Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor is in very good hands, reporting Harry and Meghan included two people who played incredibly important roles in Harry’s life growing up.
One of the identities revealed is Prince Harry and Prince William’s former nanny Tiggy Pettifer (nee Legge-Bourke) who looked after the princes between 1993 and 1999.
A young Prince Harry chats with his nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke at the Cirencester Polo Club in 1997. (Image: Getty)
Many had wondered whether she would be chosen and now Roya has confirmed Tiggy is indeed one of the eight-month-old’s godparents.
It’s no surprise Prince Harry would have seen her as the perfect godmother for his son, as she is said to have formed a close bond with the princes following the death of their mother in 1997. Harry and William also happen to be godparents to her own sons, Fred and Tom.
Prince Harry’s former equerry and mentor Mark Dyer was the second person confirmed as a godparent to Archie.
According to Metro UK, the Armed Forces officer was assigned by Prince Charles to look after his sons, a relationship which was also strengthened following Princess Diana’s tragic death.
Mark reportedly took Harry to Botswana on safari following the wake of the devastating accident, and since leaving his royal post has remained a close mentor to Harry.
Royal children are known for having a long list of godparents, so it’s likely the same applies for Archie. Many of Meghan’s close friends, including tennis pro Serena Williams, best friend Jessica Mulroney and the former actress’ college friends Lindsay Roth and Genevieve Hillis have been speculated as top picks, but no further people have been confirmed.
Mark Dyer has remained a close mentor to Prince Harry since leaving his royal post, pictured here at the Sentebale concert in 2016. (Image: Getty)
It’s been a tumultuous ten days for the Royal Family as they worked through the logistics of Harry and Meghan’s extraordinary announcement they would be stepping back from their roles as senior royals and would split their time between North America and the UK.
After days of discussion including an emergency four-way summit at Sandringham last week, yesterday the Queen and Buckingham Palace both released statements which included more details of what the future looks like for the Sussexes.
As well as losing the HRH styling from their names, the couple will no longer formally represent the Queen including official military appointments and, interestingly, the couple announced they also wish to repay the Sovereign Grant expenditure that was used to refurbish their Frogmore Cottage home at Windsor, which will remain their family home in the UK.
The Queen added that “Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family.
“I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.”
Earlier this month the Sussexes dropped a royal bombshell when they revealed they were stepping back as senior members of the royal family. (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry has also broken his silence in a moving speech at a private fundraiser in aid of his charity Sentebale at the weekend.
The Prince detailed his sadness at the decision to step back, but stipulates it was “not one I made lightly”.
“It was so many years of talks after so many years of challenges,” he said, “and I know I haven’t always gotten it right, but as far as this goes there is really no other option.”
He admits that it was his and Meghan’s hope to continue serving the Queen, Commonwealth and his military associations without public funding but says “unfortunately, that wasn’t possible”.
He says regardless, it doesn’t change who he is or how committed he is “but I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”
You can watch Prince Harry’s full speech below.
