Since it’s probably going to be a few hours before we get photos from Prince George’s christening (and there doesn’t seem to be much else going on today), let’s just make this into an Open Post for the christening and spend some time talking about the godparents. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge withheld the names of Prince George’s godparents until today. Their press secretary released the names this morning, and there are some surprises. Like… no Pippa Middleton and no Prince Harry! Interesting. I’m sure I’m about to be told by a dozen royal experts that it’s bad form to name Prince George’s aunts and uncles as godparents, but it does seem weird to me that both Pippa and Harry were left off the list. Anyway, here are the godparents:
*Zara Phillips (married name: Mrs. Michael Tindall), who is Princess Anne’s daughter and William’s first cousin. Reportedly, Zara and William have always been very close.
*William van Cutsem, “a childhood friend of William, whose family has long had royal ties.” William van Cutsem’s dad was Prince Charles’ BFF.
*Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, “who served as Private Secretary to the Duke, Duchess and Prince Harry from 2005 to 2012.”
*Oliver Baker, a college friend of William and Kate.
*Emilia Jardine-Paterson, one of Kate’s few long-time friends who was never jettisoned in favor of William’s circle of friends.
*Earl (a.k.a. Hugh) Grosvenor, “son of the the Duke of Westminster.” Rich. Very rich.
*Julia Samuel, “a close friend of Princess Diana.”
The list feels a little heavy on godfathers, but it’s just four dudes and three ladies, and Zara Phillips is the only royal relation (and she’s not even technically royal). I’m not surprised that neither of the York princesses made the cut, because it’s looking more and more like Eugenie and Beatrice dislike Kate and the feeling is mutual.
Apparently, the guest list for the christening includes only 22 people. We’ll have photos whenever we get them.
UPDATE: If you want to watch the live stream of the arrivals outside of the chapel, go here.
Photos courtesy of Michael Middleton, WENN.
My goodness, that’s a lot of godparents. I guess it shows how non-royal I am that I’m amazed at the fact that one baby needs (“needs”) 7 of them.
Eyeliner that extreme screams “high school” to me. I remember my friends all having that heavily lined eye and over plucking the brows. As girls age, it looks better to soften it up a bit imo.
I just wish she would try brown liner or something. The black is so harsh, especially for the daytime.
I agree. I think she lines her waterline to try and distract from the undereye puff and dark circles. It doesn’t look very good, though. Girlfriend needs some Benefit concealer.
She looks 15 years older than she did while she was pregnant. Bless her heart.
She’s always looked older than her actual age to me.
I just hope she doesnt wear something beige today. She is already so beige. Sigh. She probably will.
My guess is something on the washed out side with an above the knee hemline.
or cream-coloured…
She does like to “channel” Diana for these public, formal occasions… Diana wore pink to Williams’s christening. I’d throw my bet on a washed out pale pink number. (And I agree with FLORC – above the knee hemline)
All of those colors are basically ‘beige’ in my book.
ETA – whaddayaknow, it’s cream! Tanguerita, you win! A nice little bowl of Pimms for you 🙂
It’s church. Neutrals are always an acceptable choice when you’re going to church for any occasion, royal or not.
Kate is a smoker – that’s why she looks older and has such bad skin
Kate doesnt have friends. Everyone she knows, knew William first.
Truth. Emilia was friends with William & Harry wayyyy back. She went to Marlborough with Kate and was the reason Kate knew where to stalk William for university.
Yes, this list certainly proves that.
Kate could hardly ditch Emilia considering Emilia was/is very good friends with William and Harry since they were all very young.
I can’t with these Royals, I just can”t. 7 Godparents. No one should have 7 Godparents unless their mother is Snow White and she couldn’t decide on which dwarf to choose so she went with all 7.
Hilarious!
LMAO!
+A Lot. Can’t stand the fawning over these two doofuses. Doofi?
Two doofuses…wait, are we talking about Kim and Kanye now? I thought this was about Kate and Wills!
And I believe you are correct that the plural form of ‘doofus’ is ‘doofi’. (Yes! All those college Latin classes are finally paying off!)
LOL, it’s actually common in quite a few countries (particularly Catholic ones, I think). I’m one of 6 godmothers (yes, there are 6 godfathers as well) to one child, and one of 4 godmothers (with 3 godfathers) to another.
Where I live now, it’s also common to have rich and/or famous folks as godparents, even if the only lengthy amount of time they will ever spend with the kid is at the christening.
The main reason behind all this is for the gifts/support/future connections that the godparents can provide for the child. In my case, I’m not really required to see my godchildren often, but I am expected to send gifts every birthday and Christmas.
Actually, the main purpose of godmothers and godfathers is to be the substitute parents to the child in case the natural parents die.
(They are also entitled – even supposed – to participate in the child’s education.)
It’s odd how few people know this nowadays – meaning practically the entire 20th century, too – yet it is the main reason for the instutition of godparents.
However, I am sure the protocol people enlightened the parents in this case.
@Mel- no they’re not. Think about it. GODparent. They’re responsible for the spiritual guidance of the child. Why do you think the ceremony is held in a church with a priest? It’s a religious role, and has always been one.
Can I ask if it’s normal that all the godparents are tied to William and not Kate?
There are a couple of mutual friends and a girlfriend from Kate’s prep school
ahh, ok
Well, he’s the royal and the prince is directly in line to the throne, so I’m guessing yes.
I feel this is the tragedy of Kate. It’s all about William.
We can gloss over it by calling them mutual friends and yet there are so few occasions where Kate is hanging with these people unless William is also present.
The so-called childhood friend is/was primarily William and Harry’s friend and again, doesn’t appear to spend much time with Kate.
If anything, i’m surprised Trini wasn’t asked to be godmother if they were using school friends card. Kate and Trini have been seen recently and not just during social occasions.
*sigh*
Lak,
Wasn’t Emilia a friend or even a girlfriend of William’s who happened to be at Kate’s school and introduced the two?
y’all should just leave her the heck alone….always bitching she is got a real life prince like it or not…..jst deal with it
Yikes!
+1 grax – I don’t get the hate either.
nice troll spotted 🙂
and it’s a fat one 😀
So true I don’t get the hate for this woman she is harmless… Smh
+1
I like the list of godparents. A Royal and the future Duke of Westminster, a friend of Diana’s and a van Cutsem (the family Charles is close to), a friend of Kate’s and a friend of Will’s, and the private secretary who is close to the family. I kind of thought Harry and Pippa would be chosen, but it may be that as uncle and aunt they’re expected to be close to George anyway so the godparents are a chance to get some extra people a role in his life.
i agree. it seems a good mix of prestige and emotional substance and nostalgia. each godparent will have their own relationship with George as he grows up, I hope.
The title… HA! So, I’m not familiar with “Godparent Etiquette,” but the list seems slightly odd. Zara, Van Custem, and Grosvenor seem appropriate (mostly the first two). The rest, I don’t know. I would genuinely like to know why Kate doesn’t have any friends. That’s a life that requires support!
Why is Harry not even on the guest list? Is he traveling? That’s the only excuse.
I think he is attending the christening, he is just not a godparent.
The released invite list showed all the Middletons but no Harry. And as of now there are no pics of him at the event.
Harry was on video walking into the chapel and is giving one of the readings. He’s definitely there.
What?!? I didn’t even notice that.. No Hot Harry? That’s blasphemy!!
It’s not even that her eyeliner is thick – it’s that it’s not blended or anything, it’s just an awkward-looking stripe across her lower lash line. Line your waterline then blend with shadows, gurl! I wear heavy eye makeup all the time and mine never looks weirdly tattooed on like hers does.
The list of Godparents sounds alright.
I knew there would be a Grosvenor in there, either the Duke’s 2 older daughters or his son. William is very close to the Duke of Westminster and his family.
Earl Grosvenor is the youngest in that list. Isn’t he around 22 years old?
A van Cutsem for a godparent. Is William the first Catholic godparent to a CoE future King? And I’m surprised Hugh wasn’t asked, since Hugh’s daughter Grace is William’s goddaughter.
The Queen looks fantastic, what a great shade of blue on her.
Just seen Kate’s look, I think she looks gorg!
Saw a screencap of little George. Cute baby. Looks a bit like baby William but with the Queen’s nose. Chubby babies are my favourite. 😀
Kate also looks pretty good in white/cream. The Queen marvelous in light blue.
Camilla also in white? Pippa also in cream and looks as pretty as she did at Kate’s wedding. Seems the Queen is the only one who wore colour today.
I’m sure it’s going to be a long, lovely day for all. First big milestone down & so many more to come. I hope Diana was represented by some family. I did read this is where she was kept during the days of the funeral.
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1493805.1382538038!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/britain-prince-george.jpg
Three months old and he already looks unamused. So cute.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT7ffH83ZDE
Practicing his royal wave.
You would think that Mr. Normal and Ordinary would have chosen at least one of his mates from the RAF, or Kate one of the Anglesey friends they surely made. I suppose it is normal and ordinary to ass-kiss one’s more connected friends.
You’re supposed to pick longterm friends, people who have been in your life forever and whom you expect to stay in your life. People who are essentially family even if not related. That tends to weed out recent friends like those made in Anglesey.
Precisely my point.
news flash, dutchess kate has a friend.
And for the record she’s apparently wearing Alexander McQueen. I like it, one of her best looks.
I don’t get the shade over the color of her clothes- it’s church, and a christening. I thought she’d looked great, and the star of the show is the baby! Congrats to Fam and the GPs.
It’s really funny to me that Beatrice and Eugenie won’t do the common sense thing and suck up to Charles/William, regardless of who is “right” they will control everyone’s role in the monarchy in the coming years. Its just common sense and self preservation. Charles is jealous of/dislikes their father and they seem to be alienting William’s wife.
And don’t give me the party line that the princesses don’t want a royal role! They obviously want(or their parents want them) to be ROYAL, otherwise they would be like Prince Edward’s kids and not use royal titles. I suspect they’re only working “real jobs” since they’re being shut out of being working royals by Charles, who is controlling more and more these days.
I agree. I think they think that being the Queen’s favorites will protect their status, but that only lasts as long as she does.
yes i think Charles has a problem with his siblings. Andrew is his mother´s favourite, Anne is his father´s favourite and Edward is the little boy born many years later than his siblings.
Charles always was the heir, but had all the back luck. Charles was emotional instable his whole life an it shows in his actions.
As long as the Queen is alive she will prefer and protect Andrew, Bea and Eugenie. After her death Charles will change a lot.
I find it impractical of Charles to cut off his siblings and streamline the monarchy.
Yes, it might mean lesser money from the taxpayers going to the royal coffers (wishful thinking) but it also means the workload that the other Windsors do will then all fall on Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, and Harry.
Andrew did some 400 events last year. Anne did more than 500. Charles himself did 600+ events. Then the Queen and DoE did 300 events each. Edward and Sophie also did more than 100 events each. There are also the Queen’s relatives who undertake dozens of events on behalf of the Queen.
Now combine all of that and divide that to 4-5 people in a small Royal House. It’s a ridiculous amount of work and knowing how the Windsors count work per activity (a lunch and a meet & greet on the same day, with the same people, count as 2 separate events), William will be looking at 900+ events per year as Prince of Wales.
Either they will drop a ton of patronages and charities in order to keep an organized schedule, probably angering a lot of causes that have had royal support for many years; or it’s inevitable that Beatrice, Eugenie, and perhaps Louise and James will be doing their share of official duties in the future.
This is not like the Norwegian Royal House where it’s only consisted of the King, Queen, Crown Prince couple, and the 2nd in line to the throne. Norway is a smaller country and the royals have a much smaller schedule. They can afford to have a small Royal House. The Windsors, in my opinion, cannot.
I think that’s why WHK have put their charities under the umbrella of their royal foundation.
I noticed that in kate’s speech at NPG (can’t remember the charity, but she was pregnant and wearing a pale blue dress), she kept referring to the work of the royal foundation working in conjunction with the charity. It gave impression that the foundation is going to become a huge conglomerate type charity foundation.
This makes it easier for the charities to receive royal seal/attention without WHK killing themselves trying to make 900+ engagements annually since the worker bees of the foundation will provide the required attention.
The only problem is that Harry keeps working independently for his charities so people do not necessarily connect his work to the foundation.
Well, I’m not talking about what is right or what OUGHT to happen. I just think that this is what Charles (rightly or wrongly) will try to do. And let’s face it, he’s the heir and he’ll have the power.
LAK – that’s the best solution for William, Kate, and Harry…so far. As much as I’d like W&K to be full-time royals with a busy schedule, you also have to wonder how substantial their contributions would be if they each have more than 500+ events per year, and they will probably have young children to raise. Most of their patronages might just get a look-in while the staff deal with the rest.
@ A – Charles is incredibly meddlesome. People assume royals have no real power but Charles likes to interfere with the government and throw his weight. This myopic vision of his to cut off his siblings and assert his power might not go well. He might be the heir, but he still needs lots of support. The Windsors are a firm, and a firm cannot be successful without numbers.
@Sachi: Their charities/patronages only get a look-in now. They pop by for an hour once a year (maybe twice if the charity is lucky). That’s all they do now, it’s not like having a low number of charities/patronages means they actually do something for them.
I’m wondering why William’s aunts and uncles (and even cousins, besides Zara) weren’t invited to the christening? I don’t know how these things work so is this odd? Does it just show how he is not close to his relatives — or is the christening just for immediate family and close friends??
Emmie
i was wondering this too.. I’ll bet there is a bit of truth to how Kate doesn’t get along with a few of William’s cousins. And truth to how William would rather spend time with the Middleton family over his own. With that said they wanted to keep it small and that’s fine.
she get all the five stars treatment and yet she looks old for 31 years old.