A PART Y FIT FOR A PRINCE
The next big family event for the Queen will be the christening of her new great-grandson, Prince Louis.
The youngest child of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is expected to be baptised in late June or July, possibly at the church of St Mary Magdalene near the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where his big sister Princess Charlotte was christened three years ago. Prince George’s big day was held at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace in London.
Louis’ christening is expected to be a small event, with fewer than 30 guests. In the past, William and Kate (36) have only invited close family and the godparents.
If Kate lets her mum, Carole Middleton (63), plan the event, it could be an occasion to remember. Carole, who made millions from setting up a party planning business, has recently written a column about christenings. She suggests a party with a theme, such as Beatrix Potter or Teddy Bear’s Picnic, which would probably go down well with her older grandchildren, George (4) and Charlotte (3), who are believed to have a Peter Rabbit-themed nursery.
She also thinks the parents should have a memory box for their baby, in which guests can place “handwritten notes, photographs and trinkets” for the child to receive on their 18th birthday.
Life with their third child has been markedly different for William and Kate, who are for the first time raising a newborn inside the walls of Kensington Palace.
The couple relocated to London from their home in Norfolk last year so they could take on more responsibilities on behalf of the Queen – and while palace insiders say the pair are more than happy to support the monarch, they still yearn for the simpler life of the country.
However, Kate especially has been going to great lengths to make sure her children still have that longed-for “normal” upbringing, with the proud mum spotted with her two elder children at the Houghton Horse Trials last week.
In a letter to a children’s hospice last month, Kate said, “Spending quality time together is such an important aspect of family life and for me, as a mother, it is the simple family moments like playing outside together that I cherish.”