Since his birth on April 23, 2018, we have all been waiting for another glimpse of the fifth-in-line to the throne. Well, it seems we won’t have to wait much longer with his July 9 christening only a few weeks away.
The last time we were given a glimpse of the little prince was in May when Kate captured this sweet brother-sister bonding moment.
July 9 is an important date for the Royal Family for another reason as well; it marks the anniversary of the Queen and Prince Philip’s engagement in 1947, exactly 71 years earlier.
Although, we aren’t 100 per cent sure whether Prince Philip will be in attendance since he retired from royal duties last year, considering this is a family event, chances are he will be there by the Queen’s side.
The Queen and Prince Philip looking lovingly at each other during their first official photoshoot as a couple.
It appears the youngest royal is also following in his new aunt Meghan‘s rule-bending ways and breaking with tradition for his christening.
Unlike their two eldest children, whose baptisms were in the morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have decided on a 4pm christening for their baby boy to be held at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace, London.
Unlike Princes George and Louis, Princess Charlotte was baptised in Norfolk.
For royal watchers wanting to stay up to date with Prince Louis’ christening, it will be kicking off at 1am Australian Eastern Standard time, and will last for approximately 40 minutes on Tuesday, July 10.
Prince Louis will be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, the same man that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their vows in front of at their May 19 wedding.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby also presided over Meghan and Harry’s wedding.
However, the real question on everyone’s lips is who will be Prince Louis’ godparents? Will Prince Harry or Meghan get the call-up? Or perhaps Pippa or James Middleton? Whilst details about the godparents are yet to be announced, speculation has reached an all-time high.
Who will be Prince Louis’ godparents?
If it isn’t little William! Here, he is at his christening with mum Diana and dad Charles.
It is tradition for royal children to have a number of godparents, including relatives and close family friends. Bookies are predicting that Prince William and Prince Harry’s former nanny and close family friend Tiggy Pettifer could be a godmother as well as William’s former private secretary, Miguel Head.
Surprisingly, Duchess Camilla’s daughter and Prince William’s stepsister Laura Lopes also has high chances to be chosen. As does Rebecca Priestley, Kate’s former private secretary, David Jardine-Patterson, husband of one of Prince George’s godmothers, and Hugh van Cutsem, close family friend of the royal Family.
One royal expert is even predicting William’s cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, might get the call up.
“It is possible Beatrice or Eugenie might be a godparent to the new baby,” royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliam told The Express.
Although close family members are not usually chosen, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are just as close in relation to Prince William as Zara Phillips, Prince George’s godmother, is.
With this in mind, this is everything you need to know about the possible candidates in the running to be Prince Louis’ godparents.
Tiggy Pettifer
Tiggy Pettifer is William and Harry’s former assistant and nanny.
She was hired shortly after Diana and Charles separated, and is believed to have been adored by the Princes.
She was reportedly even invited by Prince William in 1996 to attend Eton’s Fourth of June celebrations, even though he had uninvited both of his parents.
Royal Nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke née Pettifer, Prince William, and Prince Harry walk in the River Gairn, near the Balmoral Estate on October 22, 1994.
Miguel Head
Miguel Head was Prince William’s private secretary from 2012 to March this year when he resigned from his position.
He initially joined the Royal Household in September 2008 as Prince William and Prince Harry‘s press secretary. Prince William was very fond of Head, evident in the warm comments he made when the resignation was announced.
A spokesperson for the Prince said: “His Royal Highness feels incredibly lucky to have benefited from Miguel’s advice and support over the last decade. He has been an outstanding Press Secretary and has been central to the decisions that have guided the establishment of The Duke’s office. He has also been a valued advisor during an important period in His Royal Highness’s life. He wishes Miguel all the very best for the future.”
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by his former Private Secretary Miguel Head, visiting Truro Cathedral on September 1, 2016 in Truro, England.
Laura Lopes
Laura Lopes is the daughter of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
Ms Lopes reportedly has a very good relationship with her stepbrothers, and her daughter was even one of Kate’s bridesmaids. Unlike her stepbrothers, Lopes lives a relatively quiet life away from the spotlight. William, Harry and Kate all attended her wedding in 2006.
Laura Lopes, furthest from the right, pictured here at Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall’s, wedding in 2005.
Rebecca Priestly
Rebecca Priestly née Deacon was Kate’s private secretary from 2012 to October 2017.
In March 2017, a Kensington Palace spokesperson confirmed: “After a decade of service to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry, Rebecca Deacon will be stepping down as private secretary to the Duchess of Cambridge. She plans to leave the household in the summer. Their Royal Highnesses are incredibly grateful for all the hard work and support Rebecca has provided over the past 10 years and wish her well in the next phase of her career.”
Priestly is obviously held in high regard to the Royal Family as she was even granted permission to marry in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, an exclusive venue only available to those with a direct link to the royal family.
It is custom for the Royal Family to release an official family photo after a Royal Christening – we can’t wait for the new one featuring Prince Louis!
David Jardine-Patterson
Patterson’s wife, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, is a close friend of the Duchess’ from her school days at Marlborough College. Patterson, himself, has since also become a close friend of the Royal Couple.
Hugh van Cutsem Jr.
Hugh van Cutsem Jr is the son of Hugh Sr., Prince Charles’ best friend from Cambridge. Van Cutsem grew up with Prince William and Prince Harry, and is still considered one of their closest friends.
Hugh van Cutsem’s daughter Grace, pictured here in front of the Duchess, almost stole the show at the 2011 wedding with her rather unimpressed scowl.
Prince William was an usher at his wedding and is the godfather to Van Cutsem’s daughter, Grace, who was a bridesmaid at Will and Kate’s wedding.
Why won’t Prince Harry and Meghan Markle be Prince Louis’ godparents?
Experts predict Wills and Kate will choose good friends over dignitaries or relatives as has been done in the past with Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Despite their close relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, neither Harry nor Meghan are likely to become godparents to Prince Louis.
“As with George and Charlotte, William and Kate chose close and trusted friends and aides, rather than immediate family members, and the odds suggest that will be the same with little Prince Louis,” Jessica Bridge from British bookmakers Ladbrokes said.
Kate and Meghan walked side by side following the Christmas Day service in 2017.
Harry was not chosen to be a godfather for his nephew or his niece, and bookmakers already believe that the odds on either the Duke or the Duchess of Sussex becoming a godparent are low; the odds on Meghan Markle becoming a godmother are 14/1.
However, whatever the outcome, it’s almost certain that the Duchess of Sussex will attend the special ceremony, just as Harry did for George and for Charlotte.
Another whole family portrait is sure to be released following Prince Louis’ christening, with this one being taken back in 2015 at Princess Charlotte’s baptism.
Who are Prince George’s godparents?
Prince George has 7 godparents:
Oliver Baker, one of the two friends that Will and Kate lived with during their final 2 years at St Andrew’s University;
Emilia Jardine-Paterson, one of the Duchess’s closest friends from her school days at Marlborough College;
Earl Grosvenor, an old family friend of William’s and the son of Prince William’s godmother;
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, she worked as the Duke’s private secretary from 2005 until 2013;
Julia Samuel, a close friend of Diana’s;
William van Cutsem, one of William’s oldest friends; and
Zara Phillips, Princess Anne’s daughter and William’s cousin.
Who are Princess Charlotte’s godparents?
Princess Charlotte has 5 godparents:
Sophie Carter, an old friend of Kate’s;
James Meade, one of William’s school friends;
Adam Middleton, Kate’s cousin;
Laura Fellowes, William’s cousin on Diana’s side; and
Thomas van Straubenzee, one of William’s oldest school friends.
