After weeks of guessing, the world finally knows that Prince Archie is going to be christened today.

As usual, the international interest in our Royal Family is huge. There will be headlines across globe.

Maybe some of this interest comes from watching people live a lifestyle that most of us won’t ever be able to share. But there is one thing that any of us could share with Prince Archie, if we wanted to: Christening.

As a Church of England priest, christenings are one of the great joys of my life. I’ll be christening Baby John at church this Sunday, in fact.

But what is christening? And what’s the point? Here’s my introduction to christenings, for those who aren’t familiar with them.

Christening is a Christian ceremony also known as baptism.

In the Church of England, we christen people of any age, but most are babies.

As Archie’s great grandma is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, unsurprisingly he’s having a CofE christening!

Every christening is beautiful. They’re about getting together to celebrate life, love and who we really are.

We celebrate the person being christened as a precious gift. We give them a name to honour them as unique.

And we welcome them into our families and our gang of friends.

Godparents and guests are there because they want to offer support and care – for a whole lifetime.

I’m always moved by this sign of their love, care and commitment.

Mostly importantly to Christians, christening is being welcomed into God’s family.

One way of making christening easier to understand is to think about the things that are used during the service. Three things will be probably used for Archie’s christening: oil, water, and candlelight.

Oil will be put on Archie’s head. This special oil is similar to the oil that was put on the Queen’s head at her coronation. But you don’t have to be the Queen or a prince to receive oil at christening – everyone can have it.

The oil is a sign of the belief that every person has worth and is made for goodness, no matter who they are – whether a prince or a paperboy, a royalist, republican, remainer or brexiteer!

The sploshy bit with the water is the most important part.

Water is usually poured on the baby’s head, while the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, of the Holy Spirit,” are said.

The water that will be splashed onto little Archie is a sign of life and refreshment.

You might be shocked to learn that it is also a sign of death and resurrection.

Christians believe that Jesus was baptised too, and that to be baptised is to share in Jesus’s life, his death - and his coming back to life.

So christening isn’t about pretending nothing bad will ever happen to us, but about the Christian belief that Jesus is with them no matter what happens: In sorrow or joy, in life and death.

At the end a lighted candle is given.

This is a sign of light over coming darkness, and of love overcoming death.

For Christians, it is also a sign we should share that light with the world.

When Harry and Meghan and the godparents are asked if they “turn to Christ” and “reject evil”, this is a way of them saying they want that light and life for little Archie.

Christening isn’t just for royalty, it can be for anyone – everyone has a right to be christened at their local parish church.

Whatever you do or don’t believe, Archie’s christening is a great opportunity to pause and think about those precious things we might sometimes take for granted: Life, love, family and friends.