Oh boy! Carole’s lavish plan for Louis’s big day
THE christening of Prince Louis will be a lavish affair with classical music, silk dresses and expensive candles – at least if his granny gets her way.
Carole Middleton thinks that a decent christening party should cost £2,000 – and that’s just for the added extras.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s mother sets out her top tips in Debrett’s-style detail in her column for this month’s Baby London magazine.
Detailing ways to mark such an event – which she refers to with PC zeal as a ‘naming day celebration’ – Carole, 63, suggests creating a time capsule box and asking guests to place ‘ handwritten notes, photographs or trinkets’ inside for the baby to receive on its 18th birthday.
She recommends the bouncing baby wears something beautiful, such as a £125 silk gown from Monsoon, and must also be showered with luxurious gifts. Among her recommendations are a £49.95 English Trousseau piggy bank from Harrods, a £265 Philippa Herbert plaster cast of the baby’s feet, a £125 Meminio leather ‘memory case’ or a £30 Steiff teddy.
To reward guests for their efforts, the former air stewardess tells the magazine’s 200,000 readers that they too should receive gifts, including ‘ votive candles, pretty chocolates and silver charms’ to take home. And playing a few old CDs simply will not do – Carole exhorts parents to splash out on a classical harpist or singer, who can charge £300 for an afternoon. Of course, no party would be complete without a theme. Carole advises buying Beatrix Potter or Teddy Bears Picnic decorations – and there are no prizes for guessing where from. She suggests her website, Party Pieces, is the ideal place for napkins and balloons. In February, Carole t reated readers to a £ 1,500 Mothering Sunday wish list. Louis, who was born in April, i s expected to be baptised later this month.