Why was Denis Diderot’s marriage to Antoinette Champion kept secret?

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Dimitry Levitzky: portrait of Denis Diderot — Denis Diderot Portrait of Denis Diderot, oil on canvas by Dimitry Levitzky, 18th century.

Denis Diderot’s marriage to Antoinette Champion in 1743 was kept secret primarily due to his father’s disapproval of the union.1

Diderot, the son of a respected master cutler, married Champion, the daughter of a linendraper, against his father's wishes. While the relationship was initially based on romantic love, the marriage ultimately proved unhappy due to the couple's incompatible interests. Despite these difficulties, the pair remained together, bonded in part by their shared affection for their daughter, Angélique.1