Prince Harry has apparently been telling friends that he and wife Meghan Markle want their newborn daughter Lilibet “Lili” Mountbatten-Windsor christened at Windsor Castle, like her older brother, in an event that the Queen is expected to attend.

Christening is usually a special time for the British royal family and other royals across Europe. While the U.K. tries to keep their events rather private, with the media usually only being allowed to photograph the attendees as they enter and exit the event. Others, like the Swedes, Danes and others, usually invite the media to photograph and sometimes broadcast the entire thing, which can usually lead to some amusing video of royal children letting loose, as happened at Princess Ariane’s christening in The Netherlands.

However, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wanted to do things differently for their son’s christening. Under the auspices of keeping his godparents and everything about his life “private” they closely managed every aspect of the family occasion. 

Now they want to do the same with their daughter, Lili. 

But they’ve upped their game, insisting that the Queen attend the christening this time.

Per The Daily Mail, “Harry told several people that they want to have Lili christened at Windsor, just like her brother.

“They are happy to wait until circumstances allow.”

But will the rest of the royal family be all that interested? Probably not.

The Queen, through some of her palace courtiers, made it clear to the public that she did not approve Meghan and Harry’s decision to name their daughter “Lilibet,” the Queen’s precious childhood nicknamed that she’s asked no one in the family to use after the death of her husband Prince Philip earlier this year.

The demand by Prince Harry that she attends is an attempt to change the narrative that he and his wife ignored or dismissed his own grandmother’s feelings in order to score some media traction with her name. While there is no doubt that the Queen loves her latest great-grandchild, it seems presumptuous and rather arrogant for the Hollywood duo, who left the royal family and seemingly want nothing to do with it, are now demanding her attendance after seemingly willfully going against her wishes.

However, it’s not too much of a surprise as Harry and Meghan are full of contradictions.

After all, this is the couple that wanted out of royal life and then were shocked when their taxpayer police protection is pulled. Security is only provided if you perform a service, it’s not a right just because you were born royal.

But anything for the Duke and Duchess of Montecito to remain relevant. As former royals, the two were novelties that did initially attract attention. But as time goes on, that attention and press is becoming increasingly negative. A picture and memento with the Queen and other members of the royal family is a way to remind the public once again that they’re not a former soldier and a third-rate actress, but distant members of royalty.

Hopefully, the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will try to keep their distance and tell the couple that a California christening will suit Lili just fine. Besides, the girl may be in the line of British succession, but she’ll hardly step foot in the the country so what’s the point.

Picture from Town and Country.