Meghan Markle is about to take the plunge into Anglican Communion. Prince Harry's fiancé is expected to convert ahead of her upcoming nuptials by undergoing a baptism confirming her into the Church of England, according to a Sunday report by London's Sunday Times.
The baptism, to happen later this month, signifies the beginning stages of Markle's transition to U.K. citizenship. It's unclear if Markle will retain dual citizenship in the U.K. and U.S. following the wedding.
The exact time and date of Markle's baptism has not been released. However Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, was reportedly requested to conduct the private ceremony at Kensington Palace. Welby will also serve as the couple's marriage officiant at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19.
Details of the baptism guest list are limited, but the Sunday Times said Markle's parents, Doria Ragland, who lives in California, and Thomas Markle, a Mexico resident, are expected to attend the event.
There were rumors that Meghan Markle was practicing Judaism, based on her first marriage to Trevor Engelson, a Jewish film producer. Her first wedding in Jamaica did follow Jewish traditions. However, Meghan Markle is not of Jewish decent.
Meghan Markle's mother is an African-American and her father has Dutch, English, Irish and Scottish roots. She was raised Protestant, a sect of western Christianity separate from the Anglican and Roman Catholic Church. She did, however, attend Catholic school while growing up in California.
Although it is not required for Meghan Markle to be baptized into the Anglican Communion to marry into the monarchy, it's said the 36-year-old agreed to it before their wedding out of respect for Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who is the head of the Church of England.
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