Why The Queen And Prince Philip Will Miss Prince Louis Christening?
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will not attend Monday’s christening of their great-grandchild, Prince Louis.
Kensington Palace announced this news today, just hours before members of the royal family were due to gather at St James’s Palace for the christening. Their names were missing from a list or royal guests for the baby’s christening.
A representative from Buckingham Palace told the BBC and Britain’s Press Association that their decision was made by the Queen in accordance with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge “some time ago” and it was not because of ill health on either’s part.
#Breaking Both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to miss Prince Louis of Cambridge’s christening. The decision was not made on health grounds, Buckingham Palace says, and it is understood to have been mutually agreed by the Queen and the Cambridges some time ago pic.twitter.com/H0MM8QQDae
— PA Media (@PA) July 9, 2018
There are suggestions that it’s due to the Queen’s busy week ahead following a weekend at Sandringham, as she is due to attend the RAF centenary tomorrow, and has a meeting with President Trump on Friday.
Meanwhile, the guests who will be attending Louis’ christening are Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Kate Middleton’s parents, brother James Middleton, and sister Pippa Middleton with husband James Matthews.
Prince Louis will have six godparents, all of whom are friends and family of Prince William and Kate Middleton. The godparents include some familiar names such as Nicholas van Cutsem, and Lucy Middleton, along with Guy Pelly, Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, Lady Laura Meade, and Mrs. Robert Carter.
Prince Louis will wear the handmade replica of the Royal Christening Robe, made by Angela Kelly, Dressmaker to The Queen.
Prince Louis christening will surely pay tribute to late grandma Diana. The Chapel Royal is where Diana’s coffin lay before her funeral so that her family could pay their last respects.
Following the service, Prince William and Kate will give a private tea at Clarence House. Guests will be served slices of christening cake. The cake is a tier taken from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake.
After the service, the family will pose for the first official family photos at Clarence House.
The couple has asked Matt Holyoak to be the official photographer at the christening. He took widely-praised 70th wedding anniversary images of the Queen and Prince Philip.
This will be the first time Prince William, Kate and their three children will be seen together as a family of five.