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Prince Harry Forks Out £8,000 On Christening Gift For Nephew Prince Louis

Prince Harry Forks Out £8,000 On Christening Gift For Nephew Prince Louis

The new Duke of Sussex's gift is a touching tribute to happy times in his own childhood spent with his mother Princess Diana

Mischa Pearlmen

Mischa Pearlmen

I imagine life is pretty sweet being a royal baby.

Your birth is celebrated by people across the world and makes breaking news bulletins everywhere. Then after that, you're pretty much sorted for life.

Well, as if to reinforce that envious desire to be a royal baby, Prince Harry has bought his new nephew, Prince Louis, an £8,000 ($10,600) gift to celebrate his christening.

PA

But it isn't the usual case of rich public figures splashing out on ridiculous materialistic things for their loved ones - Harry's gift is actually a touching tribute to his late mother, Princess Diana.

The hefty price tag is actually because Harry's forked out on a first edition Winnie-the-Pooh book by A. A. Milne, one of just 30,000 printed during the first run in 1926.

The gift is a nod to his own childhood and his mother Diana, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1997.

PA

A source close to Harry told the Sun that he and his brother Prince William used to love being read classic stories by their mother - and the new Duke of Sussex hopes to replicate that joy for his nephews and niece by putting together a library of old children's books.

The source said: "One of Harry's happiest childhood memories was being read a bedtime story by his mother.

"She loved all the old classics and Harry had the brilliant idea of starting a little library of first editions for Louis, Charlotte and George to enjoy as they get older.

"He originally wanted to get Lewis Carroll's Through The Looking Glass, which was on sale for £24,000, ($31,800) but decided Winnie-The-Pooh would be more suitable for a first tome."

Prince Louis, who was born on 23 April, was christened on Monday afternoon by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, in a private ceremony at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.

Neither Prince Philip nor the Queen attended the service, although not due to health reasons.

The Queen, who turned 92 this year, was travelling back from Norfolk on the same day and has RAF centenary celebrations on Tuesday before psyching herself up for the visit of Donald Trump on Friday.

Water from the River Jordan was used in the ceremony, followed by a private tea, featuring cake - which is actually a tier from the duke and duchess's seven-year-old wedding cake.

You would've thought £8,000 christening gifts would mean they could have a whip round for a new cake, but I'm sure Prince Louis won't mind.

If that's the treatment he's getting for his christening, his 21st should be absolutely intense.

Words: Nathan Standley

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Interesting, Royal Family, Prince Harry

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