Why Queen Elizabeth Isn't in Prince Louis's Christening Portraits
Kensington Palace just released Prince Louis's christening portraits, which were taken at Clarence House shortly after the religious ceremony. While the photos of the whole family included a few new members, namely Meghan Markle and Pippa Middleton's husband James Matthews, they were also missing Gan-Gan, Prince Louis's great-grandmother the Queen.
Both the Queen and Prince Philip missed Louis's baptism on Monday, and therefore weren't there for the official portraits marking the occasion. According to the Press Association,"The decision [for the Queen and Prince Philip to miss Louis's christening] was not made on health grounds, Buckingham Palace says, and it is understood to have been mutually agreed by the Queen and the Cambridges some time ago."
#Breaking Both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh are to miss Prince Louis of Cambridge’s christening. The decision was not made on health grounds, Buckingham Palace says, and it is understood to have been mutually agreed by the Queen and the Cambridges some time ago pic.twitter.com/H0MM8QQDae
- Press Association (@PA) July 9, 2018
At the time, royal correspondent Richard Palmer also reported that "the Cambridges are 'relaxed' about it."
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are not attending Prince Louis’s christening this afternoon. I understand that was mutually agreed some time ago and the Cambridges are “relaxed” about it.
- Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) July 9, 2018
The royal couple likely didn't attend due to the Queen's busy schedule this week. On Tuesday, she participated in a number of events marking the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force and on Friday, she met with US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle.
That said, photographer Matt Holyoak did include a hidden tribute to the British monarch in Louis's official christening photots. Just over Michael Middleton's shoulder is a portrait of the Queen.
This isn't the first time a member of the royal family missed a christening. Prince Harry was not at Princess Charlotte's christening back in 2015. According to People, he was in Africa at the time, working with endangered animals in Namibia.
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