There will be cause for celebration for Princess Charlotte when she returns to school, as the young royal’s teacher has married her godfather.
Thomas van Straubenzee, 38, a lifelong friend of Prince William, tied the knot with Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe, 32, a teacher at Charlotte and Prince George‘s school, Thomas’s Battersea.
The couple married at Chelsea Old Church, in south west London, on July 24 with only their parents and siblings present as they were forced to delay and downscale their plans due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Sunday Times reported.
Thomas van Straubenzee, 38, a lifelong friend of Prince William, tied the knot with Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe, 32, a teacher at Charlotte and Prince George’s school, Thomas’s Battersea. The couple are pictured together attending church at Sandringham in Janauary
Prince William and Thomas (pictured together in 2014 at Polo match in Coworth Park) have been friends since prep school, and Thomas is Charlotte’s godfather
Charlotte, five, was set to be a bridesmaid at the wedding which was due to take place in April. Pictured, Charlotte at her home in Norfolk in April
Charlotte, five, was set to be a bridesmaid at the wedding which was due to take place in April, while Prince William, 38, was going to be an usher in the original plans.
William and Charlotte are currently staying at Amner Hall in Norfolk with Kate Middleton, also 38, Prince George, seven, and Prince Louis, two.
The Cambridges are believed to have helped spark the flames of romance between the pair, who are expecting their first child.
Mr van Straubenzee, who works as a partner in the private office of estate agent Knight Frank, has known William since prep school, with his family being known as one of the royal family’s closest and most loyal allies.
Mr van Straubenzee, works as a partner in the private office of estate agent Knight Frank, has known William since prep school, with his family being known as one of the royal family’s closest and most loyal allies. He is pictured (left) riding in a carriage with the Queen at Ascot in 2017
Brotherly love! Thomas (left) and his brother Charlie (not pictured) are both close with William (right) and Harry (centre) as the sets of brothers have known each other since prep school
His new wife is an assistant head teacher at Thomas’s Clapham and teaches mindfulness and outdoor learning at the school’s Battersea branch where Prince Charlotte and Prince George attend.
Charity-minded Ms Lanigan-O’Keeffe, whose brother is Irish Olympic pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe, runs the social action projects for Thomas’s schools across London.
The teacher is originally from Co Kilkenny, Ireland, and the barrister Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe is her father.
Prince William met Mr Van Straubenzee’s when he attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire.
Prince William has know Mr Van Straubenzee’s since childhood where he attended Ludgrove School in Berkshire. They are pictured with Kate Middleton in 2016 at Ascot Racecourse
His younger brother, Charlie, 32, is very close with Prince Harry and is godfather to his son Archie, one.
The Princes also knew Charlie and Thomas’s late brother Henry, who died in a car crash aged 18 in 2002.
The families have been friends for decades, with their uncle, William van Straubenzee, a close friend of their mother Princess Diana.
Both brothers were ushers at the Sussexes’ wedding in 2018 and Thomas gave a speech at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
It’s the second marriage for Thomas, who married Lady Melissa ‘Missy’ Percy, 32, in 2013. Lady Melissa is pictured with Harry’s ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy (left) at the wedding of Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank in 2018
It’s the second marriage for Thomas, who married Lady Melissa ‘Missy’ Percy, 32, in 2013.
Known as the Hogwarts Heiress, Missy grew up the grand Alnwick Castle where the Harry Potter films were shot.
She retreated from the the royal set after she split from Thomas in 2016, and their wedding three years earlier was dubbed the ‘Royal Wedding of the North’ and was attended by Beatrice, Eugenie and Pippa Middleton.
In January, Mr van Straubenzee bought a five-bedroom home near the school in Clapham where his bride works.