Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank welcomed their son August back on February 9th. They were able to welcome their son, go home to Frogmore Cottage (which they’re subletting) and release the information completely on their terms, on Eugenie’s Instagram. They even waited a week before announcing the name! And the British media didn’t say anything – there were no blaring headlines about a blood princess “breaking protocol” or anything about Eugenie’s duty to inform everyone the very second she delivered. So, little surprise, the original plan was to have a low-key, no-media christening as well. Only it was cancelled at the last minute and we’re only finding out about it after the fact.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank will have to wait to baptize their son August. The couple had planned a ceremony for August Philip Hawke on Saturday, but just before it was set to take place, one of the guests was told they had to self-isolate, PEOPLE has confirmed.
Eugenie and her family, including Queen Elizabeth according to reports, were set to gather at All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park. Also in attendance were Eugenie’s sister Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, who wed in the same chapel in July 2020 and are expecting their first child this fall.
In observance of coronavirus rules, no more than 30 people were expected for the ceremony and party afterwards at Royal Lodge, which is home to Eugenie’s parents Prince Andrew, 60, and Sarah Ferguson, 61. The Sun on Sunday, which first reported the christening cancellation, said it wasn’t known if the guest has COVID-19 or was alerted that they had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. The paper quoted a source saying that once they heard, “No-one else was able to gather … they called off the ceremony and reception afterwards.” (Buckingham Palace had no comment when PEOPLE reached out.)
Very, very curious. I’m kind of thrilled that Eugenie was really going to have a small, private christening within the Windsor Castle grounds/estate and not inform the media. I also wonder who was the person who was either exposed to Covid or Covid-positive. Perhaps Prince Andrew? Fergie? It would have to be someone major like that for them to scrap the whole baptism. Maybe it was someone in Jack’s family. The People article also mentioned the Duchess of Cambridge’s half-assed isolation like, oh maybe it was Kate! It wasn’t Kate. She wasn’t invited and she was already at Wimbledon for the women’s final on Saturday. Although… Beatrice had been at Wimbledon too. Maybe Bea was the one with Covid-exposure? Hm.
Photos courtesy of Eugenie’s IG.
I am so confused. How can protocols be in place for the baptism (no more than 30) but the Euro final was MASSIVE and so many were not masking.
I agree it must have been someone pretty important to cancel the baptism.
The Euros was a test event. Attendees had to be fully vaccinated or have a negative test. The Government want see if there would be any spread of Covid among people at these events. It was the same for Wimbledon.
Thank you @Amy Bee. That makes sense. When the baseball team (Yankees) had athletes test positive, even after being vaccinated, I recall doctors were curious if they caught it from vaccinated athletes or elsewhere. So that “test” makes sense. we are the test subjects for COVID – a scary thought.
Yes, thank you @ Amy Bee!! I was quite shocked when I watched the news after the football game and saw the sea of thousands of supporters out and about London with NO mask!! Some people just don’t think! I know it’s been a long time since they were in that position, but come on!!
Though I shouldn’t criticize too harshly as the US is still filled to the brim with absolute idiots that are refusing to be vaccinated and still walk around without a mask! I still double mask, even though I am vaccinated!!
Of course it wasn’t Kate, why would Eugine and her husband want to share their precious son special day with an ice princess and her equally icy prince?
Yes why indeed. On the other hand they have no problem sharing it with her pedophile scum of a father. This hypocritical bitch and her whole family can go fuck themselves (same for those who think she is so nice🤮 and not like the “others”)
They’re all terrible – you can’t be raise from birth to believe (and be treated like) you are literally better than everyone else and turn out to be a truly kind and empathetic person. Kindness and empathy are things people need to work on and this family doesn’t hold them as important qualities to develop…
I think Princess Eugenie is the least objectionable member Her Majesty’s spawn. Some people raised in narcissistic families actually learn empathy and coping skills. Her memory of her Grandfather was the best from all of Prince Phillip’s grandchildren; she is friends with the Sussex family.
Wow, way harsh, VN. Language.
Eugenie should have also helped Meghan and denied the “upstaging the wedding” spin.
Hmmm. I agree that it must have been someone important to the baptism, like one of the godparents or grandparents. I feel like even if it was someone like Edo the baptism would have gone on as scheduled if Bea didn’t have to isolate as well.
I think it was one of the god parents. That would be the most plausible reason to cancel the christening.
Wonder how far the british press will be willing to go with the “royal sources” to some how blame it all on H&M.
Pretty sure Betty was out at a horse show on Saturday so she was able to carry on with no problems.
The Keens weren’t even invited to Bea’s covid wedding, so I doubt they would be invited to Eugenie’s scaled down christening.
@ JT, I never realized that. Though, I don’t pay too much attention to Beatrice given her underhanded actions with regards to Meghan, since Meghan stole Eugenie’s big wedding day by being obviously pregnant.
It could have been anyone. I swear- everyone in Britain seems to have covid right now. Football never came home, but covid did instead.
Watching the thousands of maurauding hooligans the other night around Wembley while sitting with my 5 year old daughter who is isolating, was pretty infuriating.
This is no doubt Meghan Markle’s fault too.
Eugenie isn’t a working Royal. There is no protocol for her to follow. Blood Princess only means something to the Yorks. Andrew especially has always pushed for them to be seen as the same status as William and Harry rather than Louise, James, Zara and Peter.
Like others have pointed out, it was probably a godparent who couldn’t make it. There would really be no other reason to cancel. It’s difficult under normal circumstances to find a date that works for everyone and you wouldn’t cancel just because one guest couldn’t come at the last minute. They probably would have gone ahead without Andrew or Beatrice. The godparents have to be there for the ceremony.
I agree with the others who said it had to be pretty important for them to cancel. It could have been anyone especially and since I have no idea who the godparents, I’m not going to speculate any further. Hopefully they’ll be able to do their christening soon.
Unless kate came rushing over to see harry???. Like I said she is a desperate woman, when it comes to harry.
Knowing her distant relationship with keen I doubt she was even invited. I agree with others it has to be one of the godparents. I’m thinking she’ll invite Ellie Golding or some other celebrity
I wouldn’t risk exposing a newborn to covid. I think it was a bit risky to have planned this at all.
Can’t she just have a small Christening with immediate family?
She has been releasing a lot of pictures of the baby. She should emulate some of her cousins and give him more privacy.
I seriously hope it wasn’t Beatrice with Covid exposure being pregnant and all. They’ll have to reschedule and better to be cautious since this Delta variant spreads so much more easily and quickly. They should limit it to parents, priest and godparents.
Sounds responsible..