Princess Anne ‘snubbed’ key Prince Harry event after ‘full scale family row’

Princess Anne ‘snubbed’ key Prince Harry event after ‘full scale family row’
Princess Anne “snubbed” a key Prince Harry event after a “full-scale family row”.

Princess Anne snubbed Prince Harry’s christening (Image: Getty)
Princess Anne “snubbed” a key Prince Harry event after a “full-scale family row”.

Christenings are a day of celebration – particularly for the royals. The family steps out in force to officially welcome the newest member, with the public later treated to snapshots from the special occasion.

But Prince Harry’s christening managed to cause a major rift amongst members of the Firm. The 1984 event was the cause of many arguments – so bad, one expert claims, that Princess Anne actually refused to attend.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles held their second son’s christening at Windsor Castle in December when he was three months old. The Queen, Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward joined the Spencer family for the celebrations.

But Anne decided to go shooting with her then-husband Mark Phillips instead after a “full-scale family row”.

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An official statement released by Buckingham Palace at the time said: “Unfortunately neither of them could make it. They will be arriving in Windsor later in the day.”

But royal correspondent Ashley Walton claims that Anne refused to go as she had been overlooked as godmother for the second time.

She said: “Her displeasure grew into a full-scale family row when she learned that her younger brother Andrew was to be godfather to three-month-old Prince Harry, while she was again omitted.

“The Royal Family confidently expected Anne and Mark to arrive yesterday for the 11 am ceremony. But as the baby was being baptised, the guns were blazing 100 miles away at Gatcombe Park.”

According to reports, Prince Philip was also annoyed by the decision, and reportedly wasn’t speaking to son Charles at the time of the christening.

Instead of Anne as a godparent, Charles and Diana chose Prince Andrew, Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret, Carolyn Bartholomew, Diana’s friend and former flatmate, royal artist Bryan Organ, Gerald Ward, and Celia, Lady Vestey, both close friends of the Prince of Wales.

Harry himself is now a godfather many times over – including to Princess Anne’s granddaughter, Lena Tindall. He was pictured at her christening, which was held at St Nicholas Church in Cherington, Gloucestershire.

In April 2017, before becoming a father himself, Harry admitted he was practising being a dad with his godchildren.

“I’m a godfather to quite a few of my friends’ [kids],” he said. “Um, actually only five or six.” He added: “I think the key to that is to grow up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side.

“If that means going to someone’s house and sitting there and playing PlayStation and kicking the ass of their son on or whatever it is, then I’ll try and do that. I’ve actually had a lot of practice for that.”