Babies, Boats, and Wedding Bells!
"It is my immense privilege and relief to welcome Sir David Attenborough, rather than Boaty McBoatface, to speak." - Duke of Cambridge
A shorter edition this week because I’m visiting my parents, but let’s dive right in to the biggest news!
Will and Kate and Boaty McBoatface
The Cambridges were quiet this week, but they were in Birkenhead on Thursday to launch the RRS Sir David Attenborough, which will become a leading polar ship over the next 25-30 years, exploring the Antarctic and Arctic oceans to help understand climate and polar changes.
The best part was that the British public actually voted to call the ship Boaty McBoatface (but the organisers refused and instead named a little submarine that). When we were getting a new ferry in Halifax two years ago, we were also asked to vote and some of the suggestions were:
Halmouth (because it travels between Halifax and Dartmouth)
Fast and the Ferryous
Boats McFloats
None of those names won, obviously, but still.
Here’s the little Boaty McBoatFace:
And here they are with the absolute legend the ship’s been named after:
The Sussexes On Tour!
I know last week I said I’d likely be doing daily updates on here, but then I offered to cover the tour daily at Royal Central, so all of my posts live over there. I’ll likely do a larger round-up of everything in next week’s issue, when the tour is over.
So far, though, so good! I’ve loved Meghan’s fashion, the causes they’re supporting, seeing all of the beautiful landscape shots of South Africa, Botswana, and Angola, and, of course, Cuddlecakes McGee, aka Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor:
Who is somehow a perfect clone of Harry while also looking kinda sorta a little bit like Meghan.
His first official reveal to the world was at a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, so that’s definitely a memory for the baby book.
My tour coverage lives over at Royal Central. Click the links to read more:
Day 1: South Africa
Day 2: South Africa
Day 3: South Africa + Archie
Day 4: Botswana
Day 5: Angola
Wedding Bells Are Ringing!
Photo: Princess Eugenie
On Thursday, The Duke of York announced the engagement of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her Italian beau. The couple became engaged in Italy earlier this month and the wedding will take place in 2020.
Guys, this is the last royal wedding for a good while. It’s going to take a while for someone worthy enough for Lady Louise to make themselves known, so we need to enjoy this one to the fullest.
We need Prince Louis to be a page boy:
And Bea, if you’re listening, we need you to wear the edgiest wedding dress you can find. You’re good at edgy, bright, and quirky. But it needs to be something that pairs well with a tiara that Granny’s been hiding in the vaults.
But if you happen to choose the Marie Feodorovna Sapphire Bandeau that’s been hidden away since the ‘50s, well, you might just jump to my all-time favourite royal wedding looks based on that alone. No pressure.
(Kate, Meghan, and Eugenie let me down in that area, so please wear my favourite tiara!)
Here’s Princess Eugenie congratulating her big sister (Beabea!):
More details will be announced at a later date, but I’m expecting a spring wedding. I’d bank on St. George’s Chapel. Televised? Remains to be seen. We thought there was no way Eugenie’s would be and it turned out to deliver good ratings for the network. (That was, though, before all this Epstein business came out, so…)
Kensington Corner
We’ll next see Will and Kate on Wednesday for a special reception at the Aga Khan Centre ahead of their visit to Pakistan.
And then William will be in Oxford on Thursday:
They held a reception at Kensington Palace last Wednesday for the Royal Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
And last Tuesday, Kate held an Early Years Initiative Meeting.
Kate’s been hosting a lot of these lately, I’m wondering if we’re getting closer to an announcement?
And I thought this was interesting:
The Gloucesters are moving out of their 21-bedroom Kensington Palace apartment. I wouldn’t be shocked (and I think one royal reporter has said it, though it hasn’t been confirmed) if the Cambridges take over the apartment for when they become the Prince and Princess of Wales. Time will tell!
Dork of the Week
She thought those little penguins were the cutest. I bet she’s never been given flowers by a penguin before…
See you next week with a larger update, Scouts honour!