Merry Christmas from the Waleses
The royals are busy spreading fabulous festive joy
Like the neighbour who likes to whip up our excitement levels early by festooning their house with Christmas lights the day after Halloween, the Waleses were happily sharing their seasonal cheer this week.
In fact, if only we could have Prince Louis as our little helper as we wrap and pack presents. We loved his “This is a big guy!” moment when he found a large plastic gorilla as he joined his mum, George and Charlotte at The Baby Bank, Maidenhead. The awesome foursome’s volunteering stint was captured as a video montage and released this Monday (see below).
While Louis was taken with the gorilla, Charlotte cooed over baby clothes, saying “Ooh la la,” before adding: “So sweet!” and George quietly got on with the job in hand, selecting toys and clothes for gift bags.
“With a third of children under five years of age living in poverty in the UK, baby banks provide a vital lifeline for families in all sorts of challenging circumstances,” the video highlights. “Supporting parents and carers, who are doing their best to provide for their families, is essential and can have a life-changing effect.”
A few days earlier, the siblings were again supporting their mum’s Early Years campaign at Catherine’s Together at Christmas carol concert in Westminster Abbey, where the Princess of Wales looked resplendent in head-to-toe ‘snow queen cream’. (FYI: Chris Kerr coat, Holland Cooper trousers and Strathberry handbag).
The December 8 event also saw younger members of the Royal Family in the pews, including Savannah and Isla Phillips (with dad, Peter) and Princess Beatrice’s stepson, Wolfie (with her and his dad Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi). Also attending the two-hour service were the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, Carole and Michael Middleton and Pippa and James Matthews.
Now in its third year, this year’s service included 1,500 guests connected with supporting young families and babies. You can watch the concert on Christmas Eve, 7.45pm, ITV.
The next day saw the Waleses release their Christmas card, photographed in timeless black and white, and all dressed in white shirts and jeans. We love that Charlotte’s Amaia Kids shirt is called ‘Diana’. Because Christmas is also a time to reflect on loved ones no longer with us.
Happy Christmas from Charles and Camilla
It’s a far cry from the Waleses’ casual style but Charles and Camilla’s second Christmas as King and Queen saw them choosing a card showing them in all their Coronation finery. And why not! The image was taken in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace hours after their big day on May 6.
Camilla also gave us an early present this week, with news that The Queen’s Reading Room podcast is launching on January 8. Based on her popular (and brilliant) online book club, it promises to let us in on her “all-time favourite reads” over the eight-part series. Each episode will feature a segment from Camilla as well as a guest interview.
Why Harry’s already celebrating
On the day that Harry and Meghan revealed their 2023 ‘Happy Holiday Season’ card – a virtual greeting sent by email on behalf of their ‘office’ and Archewell, Christmas has indeed come early for the Duke of Sussex as he was awarded £140,600 in damages in his phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers. Comparing the result to “slaying of dragons”, Harry said in a statement: “Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability.” Next year his “mission” continues with legal cases against two other newspaper publishers in the UK.
The Crown’s reign is over - spoilers ahoy!
If you haven’t watch the last six episodes yet, you can’t say we didn’t warn you. The final instalment of Season 6 dropped on Netflix on Thursday and are a maudlin marathon. Kerry took one for the team (again) and wrote an opinion piece about the show for The Sunday Telegraph. Here’s an extract.
Cheese-lovers will delight, as it’s riper than a deli counter. Highlights include:
Angry Harry: Prince Harry is relentlessly furious from the start to the end. Apologies to actor Luther Ford, but he’s like Ron Weasley without the magic. Someone will be going Spare in Montecito.
Marvellous Mrs Middleton: Carole (Eve Best) literally has the bunting up for the first meeting with her future son-in-law. “Heels not flats, it’s our duty to make the most of our assets,” she says. “Honestly, you’re worse than Mrs Bennet,” replies Kate.
The Ghosts of Queenmas Past: Just when we thought Ghost Diana had exited stage right, in come the Ghost Queens. Middle-Aged Queen Olivia Colman huffs back to harangue Imelda Staunton. “You’ve been on the throne for half a century,” she says. “Stepping down is the right thing to do as a Queen and a mother.” Thankfully Young Queen Claire Foy returns in the nick of time for a posh-pep-talk.
What will we fill our evenings with next? Game of Thrones: Harry’s Revenge!
Christmas babies spanning the generations
* Happy 16th today (Dec 17) to James, Viscount Severn - now Earl of Wessex
* Happy 87th Princess Alexandra: born on Christmas Day, 1936
* Happy 13th Savannah Phillips: born on Dec 29 and the first great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip