The Surprising Reason Royal Babies Have So Many Godparents
Olivia Owen Beyond just offering advice to their godson or goddaughter, the royal godparents are expected to guide them through royal life. But, unlike many people's godparents, the royal kind are usually not immediate family members. Victoria Murphy, royal correspondent for The Daily Mirror, explains to ABC News, "Tradition for godparents is not to choose members of the family, certainly not the immediate family."
While Kate's sibling Pippa Middleton was rumored to be in the running for the coveted spot, the couple stuck with tradition in veering away from those in their nuclear family. For instance, Zara Tindall, Prince William's cousin, is Prince George's godmother, and her brother was expected to be one of Princess Charlotte's godparents as well, the outlet notes. Instead, William and Kate selected his cousin from his mother's side, Laura Fellowes, to do the honors as the little princess' godmother, Bustle reports.
"It's an important role. A godparent is there to provide religious guidance. It's also somebody who is there other than a parent or family member that a child could turn to," royal expert Victoria Arbiter said to Hello!. While there's no explicit reason for the numerous godparents, it appears that the royal children are surrounded by supporters very early on in life. Luckily for the Cambridge children, they have doting parents as well.