Since the unexpected death of her father on February 6, 1952, February's been something of a sombre month for Her Majesty the Queen.
Her younger sister, Margaret, died on February 9, 2002 after years of poor health and her funeral was subsequently held on February 15, the 50th anniversary of King George VI's interment at St. George's Chapel, Windsor.
Though it would be another six weeks before the Queen Mother passed away on March 30 at the age of 101, February saw a rapid decline in her health, further compounding what had already been a desperately sad start to the Queen's Golden Jubilee year.
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But, with the birth of baby Brooksbank just over 10 days ago, February 9 holds a renewed sense of happiness for the extended Royal Family. Eugenie and Jack's first child is Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson's first grandchild, as well as the ninth great-grandchild of the Queen and Prince Philip.
How fitting he should be born on the ninth day of the month on the 19th anniversary of his great-great-aunt's death. Perhaps more significantly, however, his joyful arrival means Gan-Gan and Grandpa's great-grandchildren now outnumber their eight grandchildren.
Living to meet one's great-grandchildren is a privilege afforded to few, but in light of her impressive longevity, the Queen Mother was fortunate to know several of hers well.
Princess Anne's children, Peter and Zara, were already in their twenties when their great-grandmother died. Prince William was 19, Harry 17 and Beatrice and Eugenie 13 and 12 respectively. Of the existing third generation, the former Queen Consort met nine of her 12 great-grandchildren in all, but her remarkable record is soon set to be broken.
With Zara Tindall due to give birth to her third child in the spring and the Duchess of Sussex now expecting her second, the Queen and Prince Philip will welcome their 10th and 11th great-grandbabies to the fold.
RELATED: A handy guide to the Queen and Prince Philip's great-grandchildren
Despite previously saying he "couldn't think of anything worse" than turning 100, I suspect 99-year-old Prince Philip is thrilled to see his family expanding yet again. Considering his father-in-law didn't live to see Prince Charles turn four or Princess Anne turn two, and his own father didn't live to see Philip's children at all, he will undoubtedly appreciate how blessed he is.
Having received her COVID-19 vaccination in early January, the Queen will likely be itching to get her hands on the newest addition. One has only to look at the image released by Harry and Meghan of her beaming at baby Archie two days after his birth to grasp the full magnitude of her grandmotherly pride.
With the UK's nationwide lockdown currently still in force she'll have to make do with FaceTime for now, but once the more stringent restrictions are relaxed, a visit to baby Brooksbank will inevitably be at the top of her list.
LISTEN: 9Honey's royal podcast The Windsors looks back on Her Majesty's incredible, history-making reign. (Post continues.)
Conveniently located but a stone's throw away, the Brooksbanks are understood to be happily ensconced at Frogmore Cottage, the Windsor home vacated by the Sussexes upon their move to the US almost one year ago. While there've been conflicting reports regarding the family's home base, The Telegraph's Camilla Tominey claims suggestions they moved out after just six weeks appear to be "wide of the mark".
Of course it's possible the Queen may have to wait until the little chap's christening to finally meet him in person. Royal babies are typically baptised two to three months after their birth, but in this era of COVID-19 the Brooksbanks will need to follow the government's guidelines when it comes to setting a date.
The first royal baby to have a public christening, Eugenie was baptised at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in December 1990, but given the wacky times in which we now live, she and Jack will most probably opt for a private affair; their hope being the Queen and Prince Philip will be able to attend. With Andrew and Fergie also living nearby, the private chapel at Windsor Castle seems like the obvious bet. Archie was christened there in July 2019 and before him Lady Louise in April 2004.
RELATED: The British royal family's christening traditions
As a non-working royal, Eugenie will not be expected to publicly release photos of her newborn baby boy. She does not represent the Queen in an official capacity, nor is she on the receiving end of any taxpayer funds. She may, on occasion, choose to share a picture as a gesture of goodwill, but in an effort to guard her immediate family's privacy one should anticipate very few.
In 2014, Zara and Mike Tindall came under fire for their decision to introduce their five-week-old daughter Mia Grace to the world via a spread in Hello!.
The first members of the royal family to offer pictures of their child to a celebrity mag, the couple reportedly received £150,000 (AUD$270,000) for the exclusive, but as Mike told Britain's ITV about their choice at the time, "We had control over it. We had those photos done anyway, it was more because people seemed to want it rather than anything else."
Friends close to the couple insisted they agreed to the deal as 'international sporting figures' as opposed to members of the royal family, but as evidenced by the negative backlash, satiating public interest as a non-working royal remains an infinitely tricky balance.
Nonetheless, with the Queen's 95th birthday fast approaching, there's one image sure to win widespread praise. In 2016, three official portraits taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz were released to mark the Queen's 90th birthday, one of which captured her seated in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle surrounded by her then five great-grandchildren as well as her two youngest grandchildren.
With four new additions to the line-up since then, there could be no finer way to recognise her latest milestone than with a portrait of her happily surrounded once more. Though Leibovitz has said 'taking pictures of children is like herding cats,' should she be asked to document the two generations bookending 95 years, it would serve as an historic record unlike any captured before.
Like her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II is thought by many to be the 'Mother of the Nation', but behind palace walls Britain's longest-reigning monarch is known rather more simply: she's 'Mummy' to four, beloved 'Granny' to eight and a very special Gan-Gan to a party soon set to number 11.
If you happen to be reading, Ms. Leibovitz, a new family portrait would be swell!
Queen Elizabeth II in pictures
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMifGh0dHBzOi8vaG9uZXkubmluZS5jb20uYXUvcm95YWxzL3ByaW5jZXNzLWV1Z2VuaWUtYmFieS1xdWVlbi1lbGl6YWJldGgtZ3JlYXQtZ3JhbmRjaGlsZC84ZTE3MzBkOC0xMDk3LTQ1YjMtYWNlNC02MjZjM2QxMjQ2OWTSAURodHRwczovL2FtcC5uaW5lLmNvbS5hdS9hcnRpY2xlLzhlMTczMGQ4LTEwOTctNDViMy1hY2U0LTYyNmMzZDEyNDY5ZA?oc=5
2021-02-19 21:09:21Z
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