Will the Queen and Prince Philip attend Prince Louis’ christening together and why is the date significant for them?
The Queen and Prince Philip will have been married for 71 years in November
BABY Prince Louis is set to face the cameras once again for his second official public outing.
The young prince, who is only three months old, will be christened at St James’ Palace in The chapel Royal later today.
Will the Queen and Prince Philip attend Prince Louis' christening?
The Queen and Prince Philip will not be attending the christening of Prince Louis at St James's Palace.
They will miss their great-grandson's big day as they will instead be travelling back from Norfolk.
Buckingham Palace stated that their missing of the event is not due to ill health, and was decided "some time ago".
In April, Her Majesty was due to attend the 200th anniversary of the Order of St Michael and St George, at St Paul’s Cathedral but was forced to withdraw.
It was confirmed she would be absent as she was feeling “under the weather”.
Prince Philip retired from royal duties in 2017 and public appearances by him are now rare.
But he turned out for Prince Harry’s wedding in May, despite speculation he wouldn't.
Only senior royals have attended the christenings of the Duke and Duchess’ other two children, George and Charlotte.
These include the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry.
And now Meghan Markle will be attending too.
With a congregation of less than 30 people for both, it’s a coveted guestlist.
The couple will have been married 71 years in November
Why is the date significant for them?
Today is special to the royal couple as it’s the day their engagement was officially announced in 1947.
Married for 71 years in November, the couple have shared an entire lifetime and four children together.
They wed on November 20, 1947, at Westminster Abbey, their engagement was officially announced on July 9, 1947, according to the Royal Family’s website.
The pair met when Elizabeth was a young girl of 13, and it was reported she was smitten with the dashing blonde-haired Philip.
Years later when the announcement was made, to mark the occasion official black-and-white portraits were released of the couple.
They showed the future Queen and Prince Philip on a chair looking adoringly up at each other.
On her finger is a square cut diamond and platinum engagement ring.
Pictured at Buckingham Palace, the young couple were aged 21 and 26, with Prince Philip dressed in his naval officer uniform.
It is thought the couple had become engaged some months before, but the official announcement was delayed until Princess Elizabeth returned from a trip overseas.
It was accompanied by an official announcement which said: "It is with the greatest pleasure that the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their dearly beloved daughter, the Princess Elizabeth, to Lt. Philip Mountbatten, R..W, son of the late Prince Andrew and Princess Andrew (Princess Alice of Battenburg,) to which union the King has gladly given his consent."