Confidence in the future of British monarchy at an all-time high
press trust of india
London, 28 July
He might be a few days old, but little Prince George has many ‘official engagements’ coming up, with plans for a christening, a foreign tour, a high society wedding and a sojourn with the family at Balmoral.
In what may be his first diplomatic mission, the son of Prince William and Kate Middleton is expected to accompany his parents on a tour of Australia next year, echoing the Duke of Cambridge’s first foreign visit to Australia in 1983 when he was nine-months-old.
The trip by the young royals, with the third in line to the throne in tow, could provide the stardust to invigorate support for the monarchy in parts of the country where it is waning, The Sunday Times reported.
Before he is dispatched abroad, however, George will have time to meet his extended family.
Kate and William plan to visit Balmoral in August to see the Queen and introduce George to Prince Philip, his great-grandfather. The Queen, who greeted her great-grandson at Kensington Palace on Wednesday, departed for Balmoral on Friday to start her summer break.
Philip has not yet seen the prince because he is recuperating at Sandringham from an abdominal operation. He is expected to travel to Balmoral in the next fortnight.
When it comes to public duties the infant prince will be eased in with a social event, a society wedding between James Meade, tipped to be named as a godfather, and Lady Laura Marsham, daughter of the Earl of Romney.
The wedding will be held on September 14 in Norfolk. After that George will have another duty to perform when he appears as the star of the show at his christening, which is expected to be held in October when the Queen returns to Buckingham Palace.
Both William and Charles were christened in the music room at the palace and George’s ceremony will follow the same tradition: a small, private affair with a photograph issued to the media afterwards.
The baby prince will wear a lace and satin gown made by Angela Kelly, the Queen’s dressmaker. It is a replica of the fragile 172-year-old robe which has been used by royal babies since the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter in 1841.
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