Pink Ribbons Crusade

OTHERS IN ARCHIE’S GROUP CHRISTENING PHOTO: On Saturday, Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, released two official photos from the christening ceremony of their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.

One of the two photos was a family portrait featuring Archie front and center, sitting on his mother's lap. But behind Harry and Meghan were two very close family members as well — Lady Jane Fellowes and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, otherwise known as Archie's great-aunts.

In the portrait taken by photographer Chris Allerton, the royal family is congregated in the Green Drawing Room inside Windsor Castle and Fellowes stands with Doria Ragland, Meghan's mother, to her right, and McCorquodale to her left. McCorquodale also stands to the right of Prince William.

Fellowes, 62, and McCorquodale, 64, along with their brother, Earl Charles Spencer, 55, were some of the first members of the royal family to learn of Archie’s birth back in May.

Harry has remained close with his mother's siblings in the years following her untimely death in 1997 and also invited his aunts and uncle to his wedding last year.

WILLIAM SURPRISES FANS ON DIANA’S BIRTHDAY: As we all know, Princess Diana is still loved and missed by people the world over. So on July 1, 2019, when Diana would have turned 58, fans of the Princess of Wales gathered outside the gates of Kensington Palace to commemorate her legacy.

Having spent much of the day outside the palace, fans were totally shocked when Prince William himself came out to thank them all for honoring his mother. The “Daily Mail” royal correspondent exclusively reported on the prince's surprise appearance. "At around 6.45pm they were astounded to see her eldest son walk quietly and without fanfare through the palace gates into Kensington Gardens with a small security detail," she wrote.

On Twitter, the reporter revealed that William "chatted to well-wishers for around six or seven minutes, before slipping back inside when crowds began to gather. Those there said he shook their hands and thanked them for their dedication."
William's surprise appearance came just one day before his brother, Prince Harry, paid tribute to his mother in a speech at the Diana Award National Youth Mentoring Summit, an event honoring Diana.

"My mother, Princess Diana, was a role model to so many, without realizing the impact she would have on so many lives," Harry said during his speech. "You don't have to be a princess or a public figure to be a role model. In fact, it's equally valuable if you're not because it's more relatable."

"Being a role model and mentor can help heal the wounds of your own past and create a better future for someone else," he added. "As proven by today's inspirational youth, and many of the stories we've heard this afternoon, the impact of a mentor has the power to make society richer, happier, kinder and more aligned."

WHAT IS “R” IN QUEEN’S SIGNATURE: When Queen posted her first Instagram recently, her signature wasn’t that informal. She signed as Elizabeth R.

The "R" doesn't signify a secret royal last name; instead, it stands for "regina," which means "queen" in Latin. If a king were signing, the "R" would stand for "rex."

The monarch has signed official documents (like the instrument of consent for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding), to guest books, to her first-ever tweet with "Elizabeth R."

The tradition of signing with the initial R goes back centuries for English monarchs, and later British monarchs (after Great Britain was formed following the Act of Union combining the kingdoms of England and Scotland in 1707), according to royal historian and Royal Musings founder Marlene Koenig.

"It designates the authority of the sovereign," Koenig tells BAZAAR.com via email. "You will find the use of 'R' as far back as Henry I [who ruled in the early 12th century]. It is how they sign all official documents, as well as formal letters, etc." But when the Queen writes to family and friends, she signs with the endearing nickname "Lilibet," Koenig adds.

However, there were some exceptions. "When Victoria became Empress of India, she signed as 'Victoria RI' (Rex Imperator) and the British sovereign used this until India became independent after the second World War," Marlene adds.
tures, according to Koenig. For example, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, the wives of George V and George VI respectively, used the regal initial. Put Prince Philip does not incorporate it.
When Prince Charles, the next in line for the throne, becomes king, he'll likely also sign with "R" and so will Prince William after him.

IMPORTANT LESSON WILLIAM LEARNED FROM DIANA: Being royal comes with a lot of perks, but it also has its drawbacks--the most notable of which is the overwhelming lack of privacy.

Before he went away to college, Prince William and the royal family made a deal with the British press to give them special access to Will in exchange for a promise not to cover or photograph him at school or on his gap year.

After his gap year, William held up his end of the bargain and appeared for his first solo press conference to talk to reporters about his time off from school. But, as royal expert and biographer Katie Nicholl has revealed in her book, Kate: The Future Queen, William made a point not to give away too much.

The "rule" about not giving the press to much information was something the handsome prince learned from his mother, Princess Diana, Nicholl says. “Diana had seen attempts at total candor backfire.”

William’s skill with the press has only increased as he's gotten older, of course, but he still follows the "rule" he learned from Diana and never says too much.