Meghan Markle Gets One Step Closer To Becoming A Royal With Her Baptism Into The Church of England

Meghan Markle is moving at full speed in all her preparations for her royal wedding that's just 71 days away from today.

 

Today, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Ms. Meghan Markle attended the inaugural Royal Foundation Forum. The Royal Foundation unites people to help tackle society's biggest challenges. TRH and Ms. Markle discussed the inspiration behind The Royal Foundation, the issues that are close to their hearts, and their ambitions for the future. This was the first time The Royal Foundation has brought together people from across all of its programmes, including @invictusgames2018, @Heads_Together, @united4wildlife, #CoachCore & #EndeavourFund.

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After her first royal group appearance with her fiancé, Prince Harry, and future in-laws Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, the 36-year-old actress was baptized into the Church of England on March 6.

The event doesn't come as a surprise as Meghan, as well as Kensington Palace, announced in November last year that she would undergo the religious ceremony before her nuptials.

In case you're wondering why this was necessary (or what it means to be baptized into the Church of England), here's a quick history lesson on how religion connects to the British royal family:

 

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The Queen, Prince Harry's grandmother and Meghan's future grandma-in-law, also holds the official title of Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England, which means she not only heads the monarchy, but is also the top representative of the faith. The tradition has been held by the British monarchs since the 16th century, and the Queen, who is an avid church-goer, reportedly takes the role to heart. All British royals are members of the Church of England.

Meghan, who was raised as a Protestant, did not necessarily have to convert to this faith to be able to marry the Prince, but did so as a sign of great respect for the Queen.

 

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Now, at her baptism, those in attendance included her future husband, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, as well as a few close friends. Meghan's parents were not present. Interestingly, the Crown Jeweller Mark Appleby was also present and assisted in the ceremony by bringing silverware used in royal christenings which includes a silver font, a basin, and flask of holy oil.

To make the ceremony all the more fitting for a royal in the making, "the Chapel Royal choir of six Gentlemen-in-Ordinary and ten Children of the Chapel—the oldest continuous musical organization in the world—performed throughout the service," as reported by DailyMail.co.uk. The religious rite's sanctity was also further emphasized by the use of "water from the River Jordan from the private Royal Family font" that was poured on Meghan's head in a symbolic gesture of being reborn into the Church of England.

 

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Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, led the ceremony, and also confirmed Meghan immediately after her baptism. Reports have stated that he will also be officiating her wedding in May as the two have struck up a friendship since he first started to meet her last year to guide her through this major transition.

The short ceremony was completed in a matter of 45 minutes, and had 18 of its guests walk to Clarence House, where Prince Charles and Camilla hosted a dinner.