Kate Middleton has been secretly confirmed into the Church of England – her first step towards becoming the wife of its future head. Prince William’s fiancée underwent the ceremony at St James’s Palace following ‘counselling’ sessions with the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres. It means she will now be able to take Holy Communion alongside her husband-to-be as a full member of the Anglican Church.
Kate, 29, was baptised when she was five months old, but had never taken her religion further or been a regular churchgoer. Aides yesterday insisted the decision was a personal one and was taken ‘as part of her marriage preparations’.
Following discussions with William, his private office and the traditionalist bishop, who will give the address at her wedding on April 29, she decided to affirm her faith. The ceremony took place in great secrecy close to William's private offices on March 10. Among those attending were the prince and Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole, her brother James, sister Pippa and Pippa’s boyfriend, Alex Loudon.
William was confirmed, also by the Bishop of London, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in March 1997 when he was 14. It was one of the last times his parents were seen together in public before his mother’s death five months later.
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which believers affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been baptised. Sources close to Kate insist she underwent the ceremony because of her ‘personal journey’ into faith and not because of the Royal Family’s prominent role in the Church of England. Others were more sceptical, however, as neither Kate nor her family regularly attend church and most who take confirmation do so in their teens. It would, however, have been potentially awkward for her not to have taken the sacrament as her future husband will, one day, become Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Kate, 29, was baptised when she was five months old, but had never taken her religion further or been a regular churchgoer. Aides yesterday insisted the decision was a personal one and was taken ‘as part of her marriage preparations’.
Following discussions with William, his private office and the traditionalist bishop, who will give the address at her wedding on April 29, she decided to affirm her faith. The ceremony took place in great secrecy close to William's private offices on March 10. Among those attending were the prince and Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole, her brother James, sister Pippa and Pippa’s boyfriend, Alex Loudon.
William was confirmed, also by the Bishop of London, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in March 1997 when he was 14. It was one of the last times his parents were seen together in public before his mother’s death five months later.
Confirmation marks the point in the Christian journey at which believers affirm for themselves the faith into which they have been baptised. Sources close to Kate insist she underwent the ceremony because of her ‘personal journey’ into faith and not because of the Royal Family’s prominent role in the Church of England. Others were more sceptical, however, as neither Kate nor her family regularly attend church and most who take confirmation do so in their teens. It would, however, have been potentially awkward for her not to have taken the sacrament as her future husband will, one day, become Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
‘Kate Middleton will wear her hair down on her wedding day’
The shininess of Kate Middleton's hair as she revealed her engagement to Prince William immediately sent people rushing to their closest Boots to stock up on high-gloss shampoos. Sales of shiny hair products rocketed by 27 per cent after the announcement as girls nationwide rushed to copy her shimmering, sleek style, according to the Sun. They are likely to be boosted even further after her wedding on April 29 as MailOnline has exclusively revealed that Kate will be wearing her hair down on her big day.
Following her half-up-half-down hairstyle on Monday's official visit to Lancashire, speculation was rife that that was how she was going to wear her hair on her big day. But Kate's hairdresser Richard Ward has confirmed otherwise, telling fellow celebrity stylist, Sinead Kelly, that Kate's hair on her wedding day will '100 per cent be down and flowy.' Ward went on to say 'Every bride's hair on their wedding day should reflect their look throughout the year. Kate's such a natural girl, so no stuffy up-dos for her.'
The shininess of Kate Middleton's hair as she revealed her engagement to Prince William immediately sent people rushing to their closest Boots to stock up on high-gloss shampoos. Sales of shiny hair products rocketed by 27 per cent after the announcement as girls nationwide rushed to copy her shimmering, sleek style, according to the Sun. They are likely to be boosted even further after her wedding on April 29 as MailOnline has exclusively revealed that Kate will be wearing her hair down on her big day.
Following her half-up-half-down hairstyle on Monday's official visit to Lancashire, speculation was rife that that was how she was going to wear her hair on her big day. But Kate's hairdresser Richard Ward has confirmed otherwise, telling fellow celebrity stylist, Sinead Kelly, that Kate's hair on her wedding day will '100 per cent be down and flowy.' Ward went on to say 'Every bride's hair on their wedding day should reflect their look throughout the year. Kate's such a natural girl, so no stuffy up-dos for her.'
