MEET THE REAL SCENE STEALERS
... the ten page boys and flower girls who’ll be on parade on Saturday
MEGHAN’S ‘FAIRY’ GODCHILDREN
Remi and Rylan Litt, aged six and seven respectively, are the daughters of one of Miss Markle’s oldest (and most discreet) friends, Benita Litt, and are also Meghan’s goddaughters.
Miss Markle is extremely close to the Los Angeles-based Litts, including Benita’s husband Darren. They spent Christmas together in 2016 and also went on holiday to Ibiza together last year.
Beinita once worked as an intellectual property and entertainment lawyer in California and now describes herself as an ‘east coast native’ on the website for her fashion company, Legend of Lido.
Benita also own an eponymous ‘brand agency’ through which she helps establish fledgling businesses. Clients include Netflix, Jo Malone, Rockstar games and her best friend’s now defunct lifestyle website, The Tig.
BEST FRIEND’S TINY TOMBOY
Ivy Mulroney, four, the daughter of Miss Markle ‘bestie’ Jessica Mulroney, is already a social media star. She frequently features on her mother’s regularly updated Instagram account, both in photographs and videos.
Her mother says she often advises her on hair, make-up, clothes and ‘sparkly shoes’, but is happiest in ‘denim and sneakers’.
Ivy was born Isabel Veronica but is, for reasons that are not clear, known by her nickname.
Her father is Ben Mulroney, son of the former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney.
Yesterday, mother and daughter enjoyed a little shopping trip together in Kensington hours after touching down in the UK.
TWIN STARS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Brian and John Mulroney are the seven-year-old twin sons of Jessica Mulroney, and also feature regularly on her Instagram page. In a recent jokey post, she referred to them and her husband Ben as her ‘Nerd Army’ in a caption for a photograph of them on a cinema trip to see the latest Avengers film.
Another photo she has posted on the site shows the twins in pyjamas lying on top of each other. ‘Whenever I travel and have to leave them behind, I look at this picture and it comforts me. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world with these two little connected souls,’ she wrote.
Another photo shows the twins reading a book together at the breakfast table. Mrs Mulroney said: ‘This is a digital detox. Three months ago we decided to take away all electronics from the kids. It wasn’t easy and it’s not forever but the outcome is incredible. So proud of these little readers.’
LITTLE PRINCESS PERFECT
Princess Charlotte, three, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s daughter, is a born performer, as seen most when she went to meet her new brother Prince Louis in hospital just over three weeks ago. She is also a veteran bridesmaid, having nailed the role for her aunt Pippa Middleton last year.
According to her mother, she also rules the roost at home, meaning she will be able to keep the four pageboys – including her big brother Prince George in line.
Charlotte, who is fourth in line to the throne, is currently a pupil at Willcocks Nursery School, a stone’s throw from Kensington Palace.
She loves ballet and all forms of dancing and can already speak a few words of Spanish, having picked them up from her nanny Maria Borrallo, who will be at Windsor to help out on the day.
GORGEOUS GEORGE
Prince George, four, William and Kate’s eldest child, who is third in
line to the throne, is said to be shyer than his younger sister Charlotte.
Clad in gold bloomers and a white shirt, George, was pageboy at his Aunt Pippa’s wedding to millionaire hedge fund manager James Matthews last year, a role he embraced less enthusiastically than his sister.
At one point, it looked like he had thrown a strop and got a ticking off from his mother outside the church.
Like Charlotte, George is rarely seen in public. The Duke and Duchess try to ensure their children are protected from media intrusion but Prince William has told how his son loves helicopters and flying and is obsessed with all things police related. But the pair have appeared at key royal events such as the annual Trooping the Colour parade, and have joined William and Kate on official overseas tours.
He had his first day of school at Thomas’s Battersea in London last September.
TODDLER WHO MAY STEAL SHOW
Florence van Cutsem, three, is the daughter of Harry’s close friends Major Nicholas van Cutsem and his wife Alice, and is the prince’s god-daughter.
Her family has a grand legacy of stealing the show at royal weddings. Her cousin Grace, daughter of Nicholas’s brother Hugh, became an internet sensation when, as a bridesmaid for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, she covered her ears and made a face as the royal couple shared their balcony wedding kiss.
The van Cutsem brothers – William is the third of three – are among William and Harry’s closest friends.
Their late father Hugh was one of Prince Charles’s best friends from Cambridge, and he and his wife Emilie were neighbours to the Queen at Sandringham.
The van Cutsems provided invaluable to support to William and Harry when they lost their mother and have proved the soul of discretion ever since.
THE LITTLEST GODDAUGHTER
Zalie Warren, two, another goddaughter of Prince Harry, is the youngest of the bridesmaids and pageboys chosen by the royal couple.
She is the daughter of one of Harry’s best friends Jake Warren – one of Princess Diana’s 17 godchildren – and his wife Zoe.
Jake was a pupil with the royal brothers at Ludgrove preparatory school and then Eton College and has been a constant at their side ever since.
The Warren family are also closely connected to the royals through their involvement in horse-racing. Jake’s father John Warren is the Queen’s racing manager. The father-and-son team now run Highclere Stud in Newbury together.
Jake’s mother, Lady Carolyn Warren, is equally well connected. She is the daughter of the late 7th Earl of Carnarvon, who was a previous racing manager to the Queen and one of her closest confidants, known to his friends as Lord ‘Porchie’ Porchester.
Jake and Zoe married in the Wren Chapel at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, in 2011.
GODSON OF A TRUSTED MENTOR
Jasper Dyer, six, is also a godson of Harry’s and the son of his trusted mentor Mark Dyer.
Former Welsh Guards officer Mr Dyer, 52, has been a key father figure to the prince since childhood. A former equerry to the Prince of Wales, he was entrusted by Charles to keep an eye on Harry as the young prince grew up.
The pair travelled together in Harry’s gap year and he inspired the prince’s charity work in Lesotho, southern Africa, after arranging the prince’s first stay in the country, helping him to set up his Sentebale charity.
The former captain is married to Texan heiress Amanda Kline and Harry is close to both.
Meghan was pictured with the couple last June, watching Harry play polo, and Mrs Dyer is said to have particularly taken to Meghan. The couple enjoyed secret dates early in their relationship at Fulham gastropub The Sands End, owned by the Dyers.