So far, 2018 has certainly shaped up to be a busy year for the royal family, with two new babies expected to arrive in the next couple of months (the Duchess of Cambridge’s due date is thought to be just days away, while her cousin-in-law Zara Tindall is expecting her second child with husband Mike) and two weddings, with Prince Harry set to marry Meghan Markle on May 19th at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank tying the knot at the same venue in October.
Despite previously joking that his younger brother ‘hadn’t asked him’ to be his best man yet, it’s taken as a given that Prince William will be fulfilling that role on the day. But with this year’s first royal wedding taking place just a few weeks after the Duchess of Cambridge is expected to welcome her third child, what part – if any – can we expect Kate to play in Meghan and Harry’s ceremony?
According to a new report in Vanity Fair, the Duchess has simply been tasked with enjoying herself like any other wedding guest, rather than worrying about any official duties so soon after giving birth. ‘Frankly, Harry and Meghan are just happy that Kate will be there given that she will only just have given birth,’ a source told the magazine, adding: ‘They have told her there is no pressure on her to do anything, they just want her to enjoy the day.’
While previous reports have speculated as to whether Meghan would ask the Duchess to take on a formal role in her bridal party, Vanity Fair’s source confirms that this is not the case – but that this certainly shouldn’t be interpreted as some kind of snub. After all, royal etiquette would dictate that, as the wife of the future King, Kate should not be a maid of honour to Meghan (she didn't even take on this role officially for her younger sister Pippa last year).
‘[Harry and Meghan] just want Kate to be able to enjoy the day and not worry about anything. Harry has said there’s no pressure on her to do anything. They know Kate will have her hands full,’ the source said. Prince George and Princess Charlotte, meanwhile, are expected to act as page boy and bridesmaid respectively.
NOW READ: From The Queen To Princess Charlotte, Look Back At Royal Babies Past And Present
All The Royal Babies - Grazia
1 of 19Queen Elizabeth II
Born: 21st April 1926When Elizabeth Alexandra Mary of York was born in 1926, it was not expected that she would ever become Queen: she was third in line to the throne, only becoming heir presumptive after the abdication of her uncle.
2 of 19Princess Margaret
Born: 21st August 1930Margaret was born at Glamis Castle, the ancestral home of her mother's family, and the official registration of her birth was delayed a while to prevent her being listed 13th in the parish register.
3 of 19Prince Charles
Born: 14th November 1948The first child of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Charles was born at Buckingham Palace.
4 of 19Princess Anne
Born: 15th August 1950The Queen's only daughter was born at Clarence House; like her elder brother Charles, she was baptised in the music room at Buckingham Palace.
5 of 19Prince Andrew
Born: 19th February 1960Prince Andrew was the first child to be born to a reigning monarch for nearly 100 years (since 1857, when Queen Victoria gave birth to her youngest, Princess Beatrice).
6 of 19David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowden
Born: 3rd November 1961Princess Margaret's eldest son, who was styled as Viscount Linley until the death of his father last year, can count the Queen among his godparents.
7 of 19Prince Edward
Born: 10th March 1964At the time of his birth, Prince Edward was third in line to the throne: as the Queen's third son, the succession laws dictated that he would come ahead of his older sister, Princess Anne. These rules have since been changed.
8 of 19Lady Sarah Chatto
Born: 1st May 1964The daughter of Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones was born at Kensington Palace, and later christened at the private chapel in Buckingham Palace.
9 of 19Peter Phillips
Born: 15th November 1977Like Princes William, Harry and Prince George and Princess Charlotte, Peter Phillips (son of Princess Anne and her first husband) was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.
10 of 19Zara Phillips
Born: 15th May 1981Like her older brother, Zara was born at the Lindo Wing; her name was reportedly a suggestion from her uncle, Prince Charles.
11 of 19Prince William, Duke of Cambridge
Born: 21st June 1982William's name was not announced to the public until a week after his birth. He was baptised at Buckingham Palace on 4th August, the birthday of his great-grandmother.
12 of 19Prince Harry
Born: 15th September 1984Officially styled Prince Henry Charles Albert David, Harry was born at the Lindo Wing like his brother and cousins.
13 of 19Princess Beatrice of York
Born: 8th August 1988Beatrice, the Queen's fifth grandchild, was born at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London's West End.
14 of 19Princess Eugenie of York
Born: 23rd March 1990Like her sister, Eugenie was born at the Portland Hospital, and was baptised at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.
15 of 19Lady Louise Windsor
Born: 8th November 2003As a male-line grandchild of a monarch, Lady Louise would be styled as Princess, but upon the occasion of her father's marriage, a Buckingham Palace statement confirmed his children would be styled as the offspring of an earl.
16 of 19James, Viscount Severn
Born: 17th December 2007For the same reason, Prince Edward's son James is styled as Viscount Severn, one of his father's subsidiary titles, rather than as a Prince.
17 of 19Prince George
Born: 22nd July 2013Prince George was delivered at the Lindo Wing by the Queen's former gynaecologist, Marcus Setchell. His birth marks the second time that three generations of direct heirs to the throne have been alive at the same time.
18 of 19Princess Charlotte
Born: 2nd May 2015Changes to succession laws made before the birth of Prince George ensure that Princess Charlotte cannot be overtaken in succession by any younger brothers.
19 of 19Prince Louis
Born: 23rd April 2018 Prince Louis was delivered in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital, making him the third and youngest child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and fifth in line of succession to the British throne.