PRINCE Charles reportedly asked to bring back holy water in Jordan to use for future royal baptisms – which could include that of baby Lilibet.
The Prince of Wales, 73, is said to be flying “five or six dozen bottles” of the River Jordan’s holy liquid, believed to have been used to baptise Jesus.
Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, dipped their fingers in the river yesterday during a whirlwind trip to the Middle East.
Royal babies are traditionally christened with the water but the act of Prince Charles bringing the water back himself is truly unique.
Asked about members of the Royal Family being baptised with the water, the Director General of the Baptism Site, Rustom Mkhjian, told the Daily Mail: “This time the Embassy people asked for a few dozens [bottles] of Holy water and we provided them with five dozen, six dozen, prior to this trip.”
He said he was not aware exactly who they would be used for, explaining: “I didn’t know, I didn’t want to ask.
“But they said we wanted it for children to be baptised later on. Future baptisms, yes.”
A senior royal aide confirmed that the water had been collected and would be flown back to the UK on the royal flight.
A royal source also confirmed the prince had received the water which was destined for a future royal baptism.
On whether the holy liquid would last, Mr Mkhjian added: “It is pure water blessed from the spot where Jesus was baptised.
“It is holy and blessed from this particular spot in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
It is not yet known whether Charles’ water will be used to baptise Meghan and Harry’s daughter Lilibet, whose baptism details have not yet been confirmed.
In October a spokesman for Harry and Meghan said nothing had been finalised, despite speculation that they could return to the UK for it, introducing Lilibet to her family and the Queen for the first time.
Royal biographer and Editor of Majesty Magazine, Ingrid Seward, told The Celeb Report last month she would be “surprised” if the couple opted for a Stateside christening.
But a palace source told The Telegraph: “There will not be a christening in the UK. It is not happening.”
Other royal babies set to be christened in the near future include Princess Beatrice’s new daughter, Sienna Elizabeth, as well as Princess Eugenie’s son August Philip.
Eugenie’s son was due to be baptised in the summer, but the milestone was delayed due to Covid.
At the Unesco world heritage site on the border with Israel, Charles and Camilla carefully walked down a flight of stone steps to a pool of water where John the Baptist baptised Jesus.
The couple stood in silent contemplation before dipping their fingers in a small pool.
The site attracts hundreds of thousands of pilgrims a year and is a place of reverence for Christians across the globe.
The area is steeped in biblical history with the tribes of Israel under Joshua said to have crossed here to enter the Promised Land after years of wandering in the desert.
