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Saturday, July 10th, 2010 | Posted by Editor - Blog News Service

Queen Elizabeth II: Great-Grandmother-to-Be

Queen Elizabeth II: Great-Grandmother-to-Be

Queen Elizabeth II: Great-Grandmother-to-Be

This December, Queen Elizabeth II will become a great-grandmother. Elizabeth’s grandson, Peter Phillips, and his wife, Autumn, are expecting their first child, “a baby who will be Queen Elizabeth II’s first great-grandchild,” according to the AP.

For folks used to hearing only about Princes Charles, William, and Harry, this may come as a bit of a surprise. Indeed, the queen’s royal family does extend beyond that well-publicized trio. Peter Phillips, 32, is Princess Anne’s son. Anne, for those who aren’t up on the royal lineage, is Charles’s younger sister.

Unlike some of his relatives, Peter Phillips maintains a relatively low profile, working in the banking industry. The couple currently lives in Hong Kong. He and his bride did spark a bit of controversy when they sold the photo rights of their wedding to gossip rag Hello! magazine for a whopping £500,000. Apparently, that’s a royal no-no, and Queen Elizabeth II was none too pleased. Since then, according to the Daily Mail, they have all made amends.

A website dedicated to English monarchs explains that Peter was Queen Elizabeth II’s first grandchild. Interestingly, neither Peter nor his sister Zara hold a royal title. Their mother, Princess Anne, turned down Elizabeth’s offer to bestow royal titles on the children.

Nevertheless, Peter remains 11th in line for the throne. This is thanks to his wife, Autumn, who renounced Catholicism and converted to the Church of England when she married Peter. Had she not, Peter would have had to give up his place in line.

While Peter and Autumn rarely find themselves in the public eye, the same can’t be said for others in the royal family. Engagement rumors continue to swirl around Prince William and girlfriend Kate Middleton. Prince Harry is currently a single man, having broken up with longtime lady friend Chelsy Davy. Or has he? Nobody seems to know for sure.

But the hottest bit of royal scuttlebutt has to do with reputed Russian spy Anna Chapman. The Daily Mirror reports that Ms. Chapman was “fixated with princes William and Harry and schemed her way into their social circle.” That doesn’t mean the woman actually met the two brothers, but she may have had an “explicit intention of meeting them.” Sounds like a plot of a James Bond movie: “The Spy Who Stalked Me.”

Finally, a quick update on another royal family. Prince Albert of Monaco and new fiancée Charlene Wittstock (a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa) had a rockin’ party earlier this week. There was dancing, singing, and…. air guitar. Yes! Check out these candid party photos from the Huffington Post.

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