How close are Harry and Meghan to Archie's godparents and the difference between sibling christenings?

If you're one of Archie's godparents, selected in 2019 by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, you might be forgiven for having played a less significant role in the life of this first-born child than was intended.

After all, since this significant gesture was bestowed upon Tiggy Pettifer, Mark Dyer and Charlie van Straubenzee, there has been a large geographical shift in where the young family is based.

In early 2020, Harry and Meghan left the UK and their base at Frogmore Cottage and relocated first to Canada and then to the US. Since the moves, the couple has bought a house in Montecito, California and they've welcomed a second child, a daughter named Lilibet in 2021.

The person or people chosen as godparents in a child's life can play a significant role in their future. Equally, the gesture can be more a reflection of who they are close to at the time, and not necessarily the people who will be there to help with the child's upbringing in the years ahead.

The selection of Tiggy as a godmother is a touching tribute to the woman who spent a great deal of time with Harry and William when they were children. Tiggy was the nanny and companion to the royal brothers from 1993 until 1999. She got married the same year she retired and has remained close to Harry and William, attending their weddings to Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton, respectively.

Tiggy was awarded substantial damages from the BBC after 'totally unfounded allegations' about an affair with the then Prince Charles, now King Charles III. Tiggy won her defamation case against the BBC in 2022.

She will therefore have a greater understanding of the media pressure faced by Harry and Meghan than perhaps even some members of his own family. She will also have empathy with the couple for possible fabricated stories and misinformation that may follow the Duke and Duchess. Tiggy knows better than anyone what it is to be misunderstood and have a reputation maligned for no good reason.

And yet, according to Harry's memoir, Spare, Tiggy was one of those who messaged him after the Oprah interview in 2021 and expressed surprise at what he was revealing about royal life. She asked Harry why he had done the interview.

'Several close mates and beloved figures in my life, including one of Hugh and Emilie’s sons, Emilie herself, and even Tiggy, had chastised me for Oprah,' wrote Harry, in his memoir.

Tiggy hasn't been seen visiting Harry in the US, nor has he been pictured in her company in the UK - although his last public outing in Britain was for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II's, funeral, and therefore he probably did not meet with any close friends, aside from family. Tiggy also has a husband and two grown children of her own, which will keep her busy.

Mark Dyer is a close friend of Harry from his time doing a gap year in 2003. Mark became a mentor and companion to Harry and they travelled extensively together in Australia, Lesotho and Argentina. They are known to socialise together in London over the years and Mark was an usher for Harry at his 2018 wedding.

Harry is godfather to Mark's son, Jasper, and therefore it's a lovely sentiment and demonstration of their close friendship that Harry chose Mark as the godfather to Archie.

The two men seem to remain on close terms and Harry can count on the discretion of any of the people he selected as godparents. Mark has battled cancer in recent years and his health will be the number one priority, alongside his own family. Travel to America to see Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet has probably been ruled out for Mark due to the health battle.

The third and final known godparent to Archie, Charlie van Straubenzee, has been friends with Harry since Ludgrove Prep School which they started at the age of eight. Their solid friendship from school has seen them also overlap with wider family gatherings, as the van Straubenzee's socialised with the royals. Harry and William were both ushers at the wedding of Thomas van Straubenzee - the older brother of Charlie.

Charlie gave a speech at Harry and Meghan's wedding during the evening reception at Frogmore House, which apparently went down a storm. "All I wanted was a cuddle from my mummy," Charlie reportedly said during his speech at Harry's wedding, as he detailed the irony of Harry being a dormitory monitor when he was the most mischievous child of all. "Instead, Harry nicked my teddy bear and chucked it out onto the roof."

Charlie has visited Harry and Meghan in Montecito and therefore will have enjoyed time with his godson, Archie, as well as meeting Lilibet. He was photographed on a cycle ride with Harry in May 2022, in California.

Archie had a formal christening in 2019 with his godparents in attendance at Windsor Castle. In contrast, his sister Lilibet has had a christening recently at the family's home in Montecito in a small ceremony.