Serena Williams 'could still be a godparent' to Meghan and Harry's son Archie
They may have released some details from their private christening of baby Archie, but the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have carefully kept the identities of his godparents under wraps.
Meghan and Harry’s son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was christened on Saturday (July 6) at Windsor Castle.
Ahead of the christening, Buckingham Palace said Archie’s godparents “in keeping with their wishes, will remain private”, but Yahoo UK has looked into who it could be.
Speculation had been rife that Serena Williams was in the running, but the tennis star said she couldn’t attend due to playing at Wimbledon.
But according to royal commentator Omid Scobie, that doesn’t necessarily rule her out.
READ MORE: Royal baby Archie's godfather named as Prince Harry's school friend Charlie van Straubenzee
He told Yahoo UK’s ‘The Royal Box’ that he had done some research and she could still technically be one of Archie’s godparents despite not being there on the day.
He said: “I actually looked into some of the rules here, ‘can you be a godparent and not attend the christening?’, and as long as someone attended on her behalf she still could be a godparent.
“So I wouldn’t rule her out altogether.”
READ MORE: Prince William looks 'sour' and 'not amused' in royal baby Archie's christening photos
Serena, 37, was asked if she had been was asked if she had been asked to be Archie’s godmother, during a press conference and replied: “No, I’m working on Saturday… so, she understands work”.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion is also a Jehovah’s Witness, which could make it hard to be a godparent to a royal baby anyway.
Church of England rules dictate that godparents themselves must first be baptised before they can take on the role - something Serena hasn’t as a Jehovah’s Witness.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are also apparently urged not to attend wedding ceremonies for people of a different religion, though Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian were guests at Meghan and Harry’s wedding last year.
Meghan made a surprise appearance at Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon to watch her friend win against Kaja Juvan in the second round match on court one.
The pair, who are believed to have struck up a friendship at the Super Bowl in 2010, have supported each other over the years, with Meghan cheering Serena on in various tennis tournaments and the sportswoman reportedly organising Meghan’s baby shower in New York earlier this year.
