Wet Head Woe
Jul. 13 2021, Published 12:59 p.m. ET
I hear a christening service for the Queen’s ninth great-grandchild was canceled at the last moment when a member of the royal family tested positive for COVID-19.
Her Majesty was due to be guest of honour at the baptism of Princess Eugenie’s son, August, in the tiny Royal Chapel of All Saints near Windsor Castle last Saturday.
But after the congregation of less than 30 were all tested because the Queen was going, the event was called off before she arrived.
An insider told me that celebrations were planned at Royal Lodge, Prince Andrew’s home a stone’s throw from the church, all weekend.
It was going to be quite a party costing around $70,000, but it was all halted at the eleventh hour.
The question is which member of the royal family tested positive, but it could have been Andy or Fergie, Bea, Eugenie or their husbands.
Last week Princess Beatrice, who is expecting her first child, attended Wimbledon, where the Duchess of Cambridge was thought to be contacted by track and trace, meaning she had to isolate at home for several days because she had been near a positive case.
Prince Charles and Prince William also tested positive earlier in the pandemic.
Proud mum Eugenie, 31, and her 35 year-old husband, drinks salesman Jack Brooksbank, were due to be joined by her parents the Duke and Duchess of York and pregnant sister Princess Beatrice with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi for the service.
August Philip Hawke Brooksbank was born in February weighing 8lb 1oz in London’s Portland Hospital.
He was named partly after Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, who had a middle name of Augustus.
And Philip was a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh, who died at age 99 in April.
The boy, who is 12th in line to the throne, is not expected to have a royal title or perform royal duties when he grows up.
In March, Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, gave birth to her third child, Lucas, the Queen’s tenth great-grandchild, and in June, Harry and Meghan’s daughter, Lilibet, became her 11th.
Princess Beatrice, who married “Edo” in All Saints a year ago, is expecting her first baby, who will become the Queen’s 12th great-grandchild, in the fall.
One royal source told me: “Thousands of people all over the country have suffered having events canceled and ruined during the last 18 months.
“At least this shows the royals are no different.
“Apart from the cost, it’s very upsetting, but no risks could be taken with the Queen being 95, despite the fact she has had both vaccinations.”
