William and Kate have reportedly ruffled some royal feathers by leaving several important family members off the guest list for their son Prince George’s christening.
William’s aunts Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and his uncles Prince Andrew and Prince Edward will not attend the highly-anticipated October 23 event, the UK’s Daily Mail has reported.
The Duke and Duchess are said to be keen to keep the event an “intimate, family affair”, which is reflected in their decision to break with royal tradition and have George christened at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace because it is smaller and “more personal” than Buckingham Palace.
The full guest list of the event will not be revealed until closer to the day, but great-grandparents the Queen and Prince Philip and grandparents Prince Charles and Camilla and uncle Prince Harry are expected to be invited.
Kate’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her siblings Pippa and James will also be there.
William and Kate’s choice of godparents for their first-born has also not been revealed. The baby will have six godparents and Harry and Pippa are both hot favourites, as well as William’s longest-serving advisor Jame Lowther-Pinkerton, friend Thomas van Straubenzee and former nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
It will be business as usual for the royals who aren’t invited. Princess Anne will be on an official tour of Canada, while Sophie will undertake several royal engagements in the West Country.
