Prince Harry is giving many a shout-out to his mother’s family in his wedding, apparently. Lady Jane Fellowes is to do a reading–a very nice touch. So, can we look for any other Spencer touches? And, will any little Spencers or Spencer cousins be in the wedding? Today I’m looking at the possibilities.
Who? And, what will they wear?
Everyone wants to see Prince George and Princess Charlotte in these roles, of course, but who else might be asked? Tradition dictates that the couple’s godchildren should be asked, if of an appropriate age. Prince Charles’ godchildren made up the majority of the children in that wedding–though Diana was able to ask a few children, too. Relatives come next. Princess Anne had her little brother and little cousin. Prince Andrew and Sarah had nieces, nephews and Sarah’s half-siblings as well as godchildren and friends’ children as their attendants. Queen Elizabeth had two of her youngest first cousins as pages and friends and relatives among her bridesmaids.
A nice gesture would be to invite one or more of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester’s grandchildren since they have just given up their long-time home at Kensington Palace so Harry and Meg can have it as their family-to-be home next door to William and Kate.
First the Paiges
Sir Joshua Reynolds: “Viscount Althorp”
Inspiration From a Family Masterpiece
As a little boy, Harry was a page in his uncle, Earl Spencer’s wedding. The outfit he and the other boys wore (see photo at the top of this post) was based on the painting above. I think this would be a sweet way to incorporate his mother’s family–by using this outfit for the boys, but perhaps with a different color sash?
Photo credit:
Prince Edward and Sophie choose an historic theme as well.
Unlike American weddings, the little boys do not appear in mini-tuxedos in British weddings–especially not aristocratic weddings. Of course, Meghan could go American and have them wear bow-ties and suspenders–that’s very trendy right now, but probably not very likely. Prince William wore a similar look way back in the day for the wedding of Churchill’s grandson. Even some aristocratic weddings can be pretty far “out there” with dress, but I don’t imagine St. George’s Chapel will see attendants in Star Trek uniform or Hogwarts gowns.
Inspiration From the Military
Photo Credit: (Charles & Diana) Patrick Lichfield. (Andrew & Sarah)
(William & Catherine) Hugo Bernand
Miniature uniforms are a staple in British high society weddings. Harry’s regiment is part of the Household Cavalry–the Blues and Royals. It happens to be the same regiment that Andrew Parker-Bowles belongs to. Harry is also Captain General of the Royal Marines–an honorary position. This is the uniform he is likely to wear, as it is the one with the senior-most rank. At his parents’ wedding, the two pageboys wore naval uniforms because Charles, like his father, grandfather and two great-grandfathers (George V and Prince Louis of Battenberg) both served in the navy. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s wedding featured pageboys dressed as officers or ratings of Nelson’s Royal Navy era.
Scotland the Brave
Kilts are another favorite for page boys. Queen Elizabeth and Princess Anne had these for the little boys in their wedding parties. Anne famously declared she did not want “yards of uncontrollable children” in her wedding and chose only her youngest brother, Prince Edward, and their cousin, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones (now Chatto).
For Harry’s wedding, the boys could wear one of the royal tartans as the did in Her Majesty’s and Anne’s weddings. Or, if, as expected, Harry is made a Duke, then one of the customary three titles will be from Scotland so the boys could wear that tartan. Prince Charles has the green Lord of the Isles tartan, for example.
Here are some of the possible Pages:
Prince George of Cambridge, age–about to be 5.
Jasper Dyer, age 6, Godson of Prince Harry
James, Viscount Severn, age 10. The Queen’s youngest grandchild. His sister, Lady Louise, was in William and Harry’s wedding.
Xan, Baron Culloden, age 11, grandson of the Duke of Gloucester [The Duke is the Queen’s first cousin]
Master Rufus Gillman, age 6, grandson of the Duke of Gloucester
Master Tane Lewis, age 6, grandson of the Duke of Gloucester
Master Albert Windsor, age 11, grandson of the Duke of Kent (the Queen’s first cousin)
Master Leopold Windsor, age 9, grandson of the Duke of Kent
Master Louis Windsor, age 4, grandson of the Duke of Kent
Master Robert Fellowes, age 3, child of Harry’s first cousin (Lady Jane Spencer’s grandson)
Master _____ Pettman, age ___, son of Harry’s first cousin, Laura Fellowes Pettman
Master _____ Pettman, age ___, son of Harry’s first cousin, Laura Fellowes Pettman
Gus Lopes, age 9, grandson of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. His sister, Eliza, was in Wiliam’s wedding.
Louis Lopes, age 9, Gus’s twin brother.
Freddy Parker-Bowles, age 8, grandson of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
The Bridesmaids
Photo credit: Alamy
The Duke and Duchess of Kent’s wedding (above) featured not only the Duke and his brother, Prince Michael of Kent, but Princess Anne and Lady Jane Spencer Fellowes as bridesmaids. Harry’s first cousin, twice removed (the Duke of Kent) is godfather to his maternal aunt Jane. How about that?
The girls’ dresses will match the era and style of the boys’ costumes. They are normally appropriate to the child’s age. No mini-adult strapless gowns or anything of that sort.
Here are some of the possible bridesmaids:
The Royal Girls: (well, not truly “royal”, but from Harry’s paternal family)
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, age 3.
Lady Louise Windsor, 14, was also in Prince William’s wedding. She could be the senior bridesmaid.
Savannah Phillips, age 7, daughter of Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips.
Isla Phillips, age 6, Savannah’s sister.
Mia Tindall, age 4, daughter of Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Phillips Tindall.
Maud Windsor, age 4, granddaughter Prince Michael of Kent–nice traditional tie-in as her grandfather was one of the Queen’s two pageboys. Her mother, Sophie Winkleman, is an actress, too.
Lady Cosima Windsor, age 8, granddaughter of the Duke of Gloucester. The Duke’s late brother was a pageboy at the Queen’s wedding.
Lyla Gilman, age 8, granddaughter of the Duke of Gloucester.
Senna Lewis, age 8, granddaughter of the Duke of Gloucester.
Lola Parker-Bowles, age 11, granddaughter of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
The Spencer girls:
Lady Lara Spencer, age 12, daughter of Earl Spencer and his 2nd wife. She could be the Senior bridesmaid.
Lady Charlotte Spencer, age 6, daughter of Earl Spencer and his 3rd wife.
Isabella Hutt, age 4, Lady Sarah Spencer McCorquodale’s granddaughter. (Sarah is the other Spencer who dated Prince Charles).
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