Did Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday include Kate Middleton pregnant with her third baby? There’s been no official word, but a Vanity Fair article suggests the possibility.
“They want at least three kids and for them to be close in age ,” says one of the article’s sources.
Prince George is 3-years-old, and Princess Charlotte is just over a year old. Sources close to the couple believe the endless rumors will be put to rest soon. Swirling controversies, however, might linger.
Great-Grandmum Elizabeth’s birthday was actually April 21, but the three-day festival was scheduled to start June 10, which coincides with her husband Prince Phillip’s own 95th birthday. The Duke of Edinburgh, however, said he wanted Elizabeth in the spotlight.
A fanfare sounds as HM and The Duke arrive at the National Service of Thanksgiving #Queenat90 @StPaulsLondon https://t.co/qyNbKJgYnh
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) June 10, 2016
Queen Elizabeth’s birthday bash and a Kate Middleton pregnancy throw that spotlight on the future of the monarchy. Kate’s presence at Elizabeth’s 90th birthday also raises questions about the royal children and their roles in the future.
Young and old mingled at a special birthday service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Elizabeth was joined by Britain’s elder royals and leaders past and present. Alongside the elders came Kate Middleton, William and Harry, and other young royals. The signature English pomp and majesty will be on display the entire weekend for all the world to see. But will this be one of the last times we’ll witness this kind of royal bash?
Queen Elizabeth II’s lavish birthday and Kate Middleton, pregnant with another royal for the people to support, may both become financial controversies.
Kate and William have already fueled their end of the fire with their decisions on how to raise their family. Critics point to the Duke of Cambridge’s “family first” credo, which limits him to a lighter-than-desired royal workload. Detractors say this is proof the royal family is nothing but a pricey luxury. Senior courtiers are concerned by William’s 87 public appearances in Britain, compared to the 95-year-old Phillip’s 217 gigs. But William’s response is firm.
“William says there is no negotiation when it comes to his family,” a source told Vanity Fair .
A wonderful service for #Queenat90
TRH’s will now host a reception for @StPaulsLondon guests at the Guildhall pic.twitter.com/q7sJgLGVwb
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 10, 2016
Elizabeth’s birthday festivities are taking place in London, but Kate and William are raising their children far from the prying city. The Queen gave the Cambridge’s a manor house in Norfolk as a wedding present. Anmer Hall, as the manor is known, is 100 miles from London. With only a handful of staff, Kate and William are hands-on parents, taking turns driving the kids to school and keeping house. Prince George and Princess Charlotte have playmates living nearby. Kate and William often take their royal children to nearby parks and villages without being bothered by locals or paparazzi.
They understand, though, that this must eventually change.
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday festival costs are estimated at £1 billion, according to Deccan Chronicle . In an age of austerity, the tab seems excessive to many. Only 1,000 tickets to the grand finale street party Sunday were made available. The £150 ($215) per ticket price tag turned off even more Brits.
If Kate Middleton is pregnant with another heir, that child might not grow up as a royal. But chances are the kid won’t be destitute. Dad, Prince William, may not be making as many public appearances as his title says he should, but he’s got another gig as an air-ambulance pilot. One way or another, the Cambridge’s should be fine.
But can the same be said of the monarchy?
Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday and a Kate Middleton pregnancy may be cause for celebration for some, but are cause for concern for themselves. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, praised Elizabeth this morning for her rule “through war and hardship, through turmoil and change.”
But more turmoil and change seems likely.
Would you celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s birthday or Kate Middleton’s pregnancy?
[Photos by Alex Lentati and Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AP Images]