Tag Archives: Prince George

All Seven (!) of Prince George’s Godparents Revealed

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

Photo Courtesy of Reuters

From People:

• Zara Tindall (née Phillips), 32, William’s cousin and Olympic equestrian, is the only royal on the list. She has been close to William their entire lives and is expecting her own first child with rugby player husband Mike Tindall in the new year. 

• Oliver Baker, a college friend of the couple. He is married to another St. Andrews University alumni, Melissa. 

• Emilia Jardine-Paterson (née D’Erlanger), who was at Marlborough College school with Kate and is a longtime friend of William’s. 

• Earl “Hugh” Grosvenor, the son one of William’s own godparents, the Duchess of Westminster. Only 22, he is the heir to the Duke of Westminster, one of Britain’s richest men. 

• Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, 53, who as private secretary to the couple and Prince Harry from 2005-2012, helped plan their public lives. He is now serving them part-time as Principal Private Secretary and Equerry. The bonds with him and his family were underscored at the couple’s 2011 wedding, when they chose his son Billy to be a page. 

• Julia Samuel. She was a close friend of Diana, the Princess of Wales, and a founder patron of a charity for which William is also patron, Child Bereavement U.K. William and Kate visited the charity’s headquarters for a royal engagement earlier this year. 

• William van Cutsem is the youngest of the four van Cutsem brothers. The van Cutsems, who used to live in Anmer Hall, Norfolk, where William and Kate will have their country home, provided much-needed family support to William and Harry after their mother died in 1997. Van Cutsem’s niece, Grace, was a bridesmaid at the royal wedding.

As for George having one more godparent than either William and Harry, “Why not?” one palace source says of the couple’s decision. “It was entirely their choice, their personal preference. There was no set number that they had to choose and have gone with seven people.” 

The source added, “They wanted to include family and friends and reflect their life on both sides.”

 

 

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Prince George Christening – Update

kate-middleton-and-prince-william-with-baby-prince-george-alexander-louis

Ahead of Prince George’s christening, here are some things to watch:

  • People is reporting that Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, has not been invited to the intimate family affair despite reports to the contrary over the weekend. In fact, other sources are reporting that none of the couple’s siblings have plus one invites.
  • Significant others are not the only ones being left off the guest list, The Telegraph is reporting that the Yorks (Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie); the Wessexes (Earl of Wessex,  Countess of Wessex, and their children);  Peter Phillips, Autumn Kelly, and their children; and the Princess Royal, who is in Canada, were all left off the guest list to make room for the couple’s friends.
  • Kensington Palace confirmed yesterday that the official photographer for the event will be Hollywood photographer, Jason Bell. His work is currently showcased at the National Gallery where the Duchess of Cambridge serves as a patron.
  • According to Express, all the public will hear and see about the christening will be the official photographs and a brief statement by the Cambridges on Thursday.
Photo Source: Express

Photo Source: Express

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Carole Middleton Denied Australian Nanny Job?

Rumors have it that the Cambridges wanted the Duchess’ mother, Carole, to accompany them on their visit to Australia and New Zealand next spring; however, the Queen is said to have put her foot down and denied the request. Prince William’s childhood nanny, Jessie Webb, has been lending a helping hand with Prince George and it is likely she will get the nod for the upcoming tour. The tour is expected to last a few months so it is understandable that the new parents would want to bring Prince George along as Prince Charles and Diana did when they toured Down Under with a young Prince William in May 1983.

Prince William, Diana, and Prince Charles in Australia [May 1983]

Prince William, Diana, and Prince Charles in Australia [May 1983]

Duchess of Cambridge and Jessie Webb [September 2013]

Duchess of Cambridge and Jessie Webb [September 2013]

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Cressida’s Big Invite

Photo Courtesy of kpopstarz.com

Photo Courtesy of kpopstarz.com

 

Rumors are swirling that Prince Harry’s girlfriend of 18 months has landed an invite to Prince George’s christening on October 23rd. According to the DailyMail, Cressida Bonas, is hesitant about being in the spotlight and one source close to the couple said, ‘She’s very, very nervous, about everything, but Prince Harry is being very protective of her and wants her there.’ Her invitation to join the Queen and other senior royals is a sign that the royal family has accepted them as an official item.

Also of note, Pippa Middleton is expected to attend with her boyfriend, Nico Jackson, and James Middleton will be accompanied by his girlfriend, Donna Air.

 

Pippa and Nico in St. Moritz, Switzerland (March 2013)

Pippa and Nico in St. Moritz, Switzerland (March 2013)

James and Donna at the Serpentine Summer Garden Party (June 2013)

James and Donna at the Serpentine Summer Garden Party (June 2013)

 

 

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Throwback Thursday – Prince William’s Christening

Prince William's christening (1982)

Prince William’s christening (1982)

August 4, 1982: Prince William was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace. It was on this day that Prince William’s impressive godparents were revealed: the former King Constantine of Greece, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, the Duchess of Westminster, Lady Susan Hussey, Lord Romsey, and Sir Laurens van der Post. Prince William had to share the spotlight with his great-grandmother, the Queen Mother, as his baptism was also on her 82nd birthday. Princess Margaret stirred up some family drama when she would not interrupt her trip to Italy to attend the event stating, “The christening of your nephew’s child isn’t the most important occasion of the year.” Her husband, Lord Snowden, stayed behind and took the official portraits marking the occasion.

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Prince George’s Christening Details Revealed!

Prince George will be christened on October 23 at 3pm in the Chapel Royal at St. James’s Palace, Kensington Palace confirmed today. The Archbishop of Canterbury will perform the baptism, which is expected to last about 45 minutes. The future heir to the throne will be dressed in a replica of the lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, in 1841. The Earl and Countess of Wessex’s son Viscount Severn became the first royal baby to wear the new robe at his christening in 2008.

Official Photo from the Earl and Countess of Wessex's son Viscount Severn christening (2008)

Official photo from the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s son Viscount Severn christening (2008)

Neither the guest list nor the names of the six godparents were released. Reports have been swirling about who these yet to be named godparents are – Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, Fergus Boyd, and Emilia d’Erlanger are all names that have been mentioned.

Official photos will be taken after the ceremony. A picture of the Queen and all three future monarchs – Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George – will be released. According to the BBC, the last time this happened was at the christening of the future Edward VIII in 1894 showed the royal baby with his father, George V; grandfather, Edward VII; and great-grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Queen Victoria and Three Future Monarchs (1894)

Queen Victoria and three future monarchs (1894)

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New Family Photos to be Released

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A palace told PEOPLE that Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge may release family photos of Prince George instead of unveiling a professional portrait. These personal family shots may be released as early as this week. More formal photos are expected to be taken around the time of Prince George’s christening this fall.

The Duchess and Prince George have remained at the Middleton family home while Prince William returned to work back in Wales this past week.

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