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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle refer to daughter Lilibet Diana as 'Princess' in christening announcement

The service took place at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Montecito home

harry christening
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have celebrated Lilibet's christening, it has been confirmed.

The ceremony for their 21-month-old daughter took place last Friday at their home in Montecito.

WATCH: Archie and Lilibet's cutest moments

A spokesperson for Prince Harry and Meghan says: "I can confirm that Princess Lilibet Diana was christened on Friday, March 3 by the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the Rev John Taylor."

It is the first time Lilibet has been publicly referred to as Princess. She became a princess when her grandfather the King acceded to the throne.

It is understood Lili’s title of princess and Archie's title as a prince will be used in formal settings, but not in everyday conversational use by the couple.

RELATED: Why royal family did NOT attend Lilibet's intimate christening

Meghan Markle pictured with daughter Lili on her first birthday party at Frogmore Cottage© Photo: Twitter

Lilibet was born on 4 June 2021

Harry and Meghan are understood to be keen to not deny their children their birth-right, but to allow them the chance to decide for themselves when older whether to drop or keep using the titles.

The rules set out by King George V in 1917 mean Archie and Lili, as the children of a son of a sovereign, are automatically a prince and a princess and also now have an HRH style if they choose to use it.

British line of succession

Archie and Lilibet are currently referred to as Master and Miss

Buckingham Palace said the royal website "will now be updated in due course" to reflect the titles.

At the time of the late Queen's death and the King's accession, a spokesman for the King pledged to update Archie and Lilibet's names on the site "as and when we get information".

It comes after the couple's friend and Hollywood producer, Tyler Perry, was spotted arriving in California from his home in Atlanta. He revealed in Harry and Meghan's Netflix docuseries that the couple had asked him to be Lilibet's godfather. 

Tyler Perry attended Lilis christening© Photo: Getty Images

Tyler Perry was asked to be Lilibet's godfather

PEOPLE magazine reports there were around 20 to 30 guests at the intimate gathering, including Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland. It adds that following the ceremony, there was an afternoon of food and dancing, with three-year-old Archie enjoying a dance with his little sister. 

The magazine claims the Sussexes extended an invitation to King Charles and Queen Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales, but the royals were not in attendance.

HELLO! has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

The news comes just a few days days after the royals were told to vacate their UK home, Frogmore Cottage by King Charles.

Tensions between Harry and Meghan and the royal family remain strained, with the Sussexes stating this week they had received an invitation to Charles's coronation on 6 May – but not revealing whether or not they will attend.

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