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 treated readers to a £1,500 Mothering Sunday wish list. Louis, who was born in April, is expected to be baptised later this month.