BY GEORGE
THE private chapel where Archie Harrison is being christened was rebuilt following a devastating fire which destroyed vast parts of Windsor Castle.
Master Archie is due to be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, at a private service later today, at the castle where The Duke and Duchess of Sussex got married.
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The ceremony will be held in a private chapel, and will be attended by close family and friends in the intimate 30-seat venue.
The cosy chapel is the Queen’s personal place of worship, and is not open to the public.
It’s located in the Upper Ward of the castle, with the Lower Ward boasting the grand 600-seat venue where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle exchanged vows.
Only a handful of people have been allowed inside the chapel, which has no pews but instead red giltwood chairs, originally commissioned by George IV for the state dining room nearly 200 years ago.
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The room is dominated by a stain glass window, which features scenes from the devastating fire.
On November 20 1992, a worklamp in the original chapel was left too close to a curtain and caught fire.
The blaze raged for a day and night and engulfed around a fifth of the 1,000-year-old castle.
The original Victorian chapel was destroyed, along with nine state rooms, with a further 100 being severely damaged.
The medieval St George’s Hall was also destroyed in the blaze, which 200 firefighters from seven counties tackled.
A human chain was formed – including Prince Andrew who was working in the castle at the time – to get priceless artworks from the Royal Collection out.
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The original 19th century gothic chapel, where the fire broke out, was irreparable, and a plaque now marks out the place where the fire started.
The original octagonal shaped room was created by Queen Victoria in the 1840s, and had previously been a music room, with an intricately carved screen separating it from the main St George’s Hall.
Some of her children were christened, confirmed and married there, and Queen Victoria herself regularly worshipped there.
And it was also where the Queen, Prince Charles and the Princess Royal were confirmed, and royals including Zara Phillips and the Earl of Wessex were christened there.
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But Archie isn’t the first royal to be christened in the new chapel, as Lady Louise Windsor was in 2004.
Following the fire, the chapel was relocated as part of the £36.5 million restoration project, which was completed in 1997, and was overseen by the Duke of Edinburgh.
The current chapel was previously a passageway between the public and private areas of the castle, and the original chapel was turned into the Lantern Lobby, and is the grand entrance room for state dinners.
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But there will still be some traditional aspects to Archie’s christening, as Meghan and Prince Harry will borrow the Lily Font from the Tower of London to use for the service, also commissioned by Queen Victoria around 1840 for the baptism of her first child.
And Master Archie will be wearing the replica royal christening gown, based on the lace and satin dress Queen Victoria made, which was used by royal babies for 163 years.
In 2004 it was deemed too fragile so a replica was made, with Princes George, Louis, Princess Charlotte as well as Zara and Mike Tindall’s daughters, Mia and Lena, all wearing the imitation frock.
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And it’s been revealed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry poach one of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s most senior aides for their own venture.
A PR expert has claimed Meghan and Harry are acting like ‘Hollywood A-listers’ by keeping baby Archie’s christening private.
Meanwhile we recently revealed the Queen thinks Meghan dealt with her family drama in a "dignified way".
Royal fans are convinced Baby Sussex was born TWO WEEKS ago after Harry and Meghan introduced him to the world