Queen Elizabeth II attends joint christening of great-grandsons
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Queen Elizabeth II attends joint christening of great-grandsons
The Queen was in attendance at the double christening of her two great-grandsons with Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall, and their families in Windsor on Sunday.
Fears over the absence of Her Majesty, who has forcedly missed the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph due to a back sprain, have been floating around until the monarch confirmed to her courtiers that she would be present for the event.
It must be noted that the 95-year-old Queen has warned that 'none of us can slow the passage of time' via a speech delivered by Prince Edward earlier this month after she failed to address the Church of England's national assembly for the first time in her 69-year reign.
The Queen confirmed her attendance at the event after taking advice from her personal doctor. Credit: Kelvin Bruce/Jim Bennett.
Princess Eugenie sported a glamorous silk white dress featuring an embroidered detail as she arrived alongside husband Jack Brooksbank at the All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park where the couple will be celebrating the joint baptism of their son, August Philip, and Zara Tindall's baby, Lucas.
Meanwhile, Zara Tindall donned a black ensemble and pearl dangling earrings as she arrived alone at the Windsor chapel. Her smiling husband, Mark Tindall, arrived shortly dressed in a smart blazer.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank arrived together at the All Saints Chapel in Windsor Great Park where the couple will be celebrating the joint baptism of their son, August Philip, and Zara Tindall's baby, Lucas. Credit: Mark Large/Daily Mail.
Zara Tindall drove herself to the venue wearing a black ensemble. Credit: Kelvin Bruce.
Zara’s husband, Mike Tindall, arrived shortly after, dressed in a smart blazer. Credit: Kelvin Bruce.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have welcomed their son, August Brooksbank, in February at London's Portland Hospital.
The royal had initially planned to baptise her son in July at the Royal Chapel of All Saints in Windsor Great Park.
However, the event had to be postponed after an attendee was said to have either tested positive for COVID-19 or been pinged by the NHS COVID-19 app just minutes before the christening.
Meanwhile, Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, welcomed her third child — and first son — with her husband, former England rugby star Mike Tindall, in March.
The royal babies were reportedly christened together on November 21 in Holy Water collected by Prince Charles himself from his recent trip to Jordan.
The Prince of Wales has reportedly picked up 'five or six dozen bottles' of Holy Water from the River Jordan. The bottles of Holy Water were brought back to the UK and were stored in the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace.
The Holy Water was said to be used for royal baptisms and to bless non-royal worshippers at the chapel.
Prince Charles has reportedly picked up Holy Water from River Jordan to be used for royal baptisms. Credit: Getty Images.
Queen Elizabeth II has notably missed a number of her public engagements — including a cancelled trip to Northern Island, an in-person appearance at Cop26 in Glasgow, and the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on November 13 — following her overnight hospitalisation at London's King Edward VII's Hospital where she underwent 'preliminary tests' and was advised by her doctors to rest.
Attending the christening of her great-grandsons would have been very important to the Queen, according to commentator Penny Junor.
She told the Sun: 'I've never heard of two royal babies being christened together like this. The Queen is very spiritual, a christening is a very important occasion for the head of the Church of England and being there will be of great importance to her.'
'She's very fond of Zara and Mike, and Eugenie too.'
It is understood that Queen Elizabeth II made an '11th-hour decision' and had taken advice from her personal doctor before attending the event.
An insider said that the monarch was 'keen to be there' as she 'knows how important it is' for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
A Royal commentator said that the Queen's attendance to the unusual joint christening of two royal cousins would be a 'fantastic message to the world that she is not ready to leave us yet'.
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