Meghan Markle has been baptized into the Church of England ahead of the royal wedding in May

Meghan Markle is now a fully fledged member of the Church of England after the American actress was baptized and confirmed in a secret ceremony at St James's Palace in London this week.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby administered the holy sacrament in a 45-minute service on Tuesday evening at the palace's Chapel Royal with her fiance, Prince Harry, by her side, UK media outlets reported, quoting the Daily Mail.


Kensington Palace has not made a public statement but Prince Charles and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were also said to have been among the handful of guests in attendance.

Welby was reportedly asked to lead the service by Markle, with whom he has developing a close bond after providing guidance on the rites and sacraments of the Church in recent weeks.

As part of the ceremony, holy water from the River Jordan was poured on Markle's head, the Mail reported. It was not necessary for Markle who attended a Roman Catholic high school but was brought up Protestant to convert in order to marry Prince Harry, but she announced at the time of her engagement that she would do so anyway before their wedding in mid-May.