The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been accused of acting like “Hollywood A-listers” over their handling of son Archie’s christening.
Prince Harry and Meghan have insisted today's private baptism at Windsor Castle remains shrouded in secrecy and are breaking with protocol by refusing to name the godparents.
But it has emerged they would be in breach of a legal requirement to make the names available to the public.
And the decision to exclude fans and the press sparked anger as it came after revelations they used £2.4million of taxpayer cash to renovate their home.
PR expert Mark Borkowski said: “This is what you’d expect a Hollywood A-lister to do, purposefully be sort of antagonist to the traditional system and not engaging with media.
"And this is certainly a declaration that they’ll go to any lengths to protect their privacy.”
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty mag, said Harry and Meghan had “misinterpreted the situation” and “upset the people who love them the most”.
She said: “It’s been handled like some kind of scandal or secret when it’s only the request to share what should be a joyous occasion.”
Harry, 34, and Meghan, 37, have invited 25 friends and family, including Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and his cousins Beatrice and Eugenie. The Queen will not attend after a “diary clash”, an aide said.
It is speculated that Meghan’s old university friends Genevieve Hillis and Lindsay Roth, stylist Jessica Mulroney and fashion designer Misha Nonoo are in the running to be godparents.
The palace will release official christening snaps on Saturday afternoon.
