The Queen has appointed Prince William a Knight of the Garter.

Prince William with Prince Charles and Camilla at Cranwell

Her Majesty made the announcement as predicted on St. George’s Day, England’s national day and Shakespeare’s birthday.

Prince William will be officially created a Royal Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter and presented with the insignia by his grandmother at a private service at Windsor Castle in June. He will then take part in a public parade wearing the distinctive blue robes and black velvet plumed hat.

This illustrious Order was founded by Edward III in 1348. It is the highest and the oldest British Order of Chivalry and remains in the Queen’s gift alone.

William will, at 25, become the 1000th Knight in the Register since 1348. Together with Prince Philip and Prince Charles he makes up three concurrent generations of Royal Knights.

Regular readers will know that Royal Anecdotes “nominated” Prince William for the vacancy.

We are delighted Her Majesty chose Prince William, whose recent exploits with a Chinook helicopter would have made Biggles proud.

1. Prince William and helicopters
Another day, another row over where Prince William landed his helicopter. Haven’t these people got better things to occupy their time?

A Chinook helicopter like the one that William landed at Kate’s place

It seems the second in line to the Throne used a field adjoining girlfriend Kate Middleton’s home to practise landing and taking off. He did so with permission from the Middletons and the RAF.

The MoD said in a statement: “Battlefield helicopter crews routinely practise landing in fields and confined spaces away from their airfields as a vital part of their training for operations. These highly-honed skills are used daily in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Opportunities to use alternatives are therefore regularly seized. The aircraft landed in the field, after taking all necessary safety precautions, and was on the ground for 20 seconds. No one got on or off the aircraft. This was very much a routine training sortie that achieved essential training objectives.”

The idea that William was “showing off” is, of course, utterly preposterous.

2. Chelsy invite
Chelsy Davy has been invited at last to the wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly on May 17.

One of her university friends in Leeds is quoted as saying, “Chels received the invite last week but she has yet to reply. At the moment, her focus is her work. This is a tough term and she’s studying very hard. She was really put out not to have been invited, not least because Kate got an invite. Chels doesn’t particularly like hanging out with the young Royal crowd – she far prefers relaxing with her friends – but she doesn’t like to be forgotten about.”

Chelsy has not yet responded to the invitation.

3. Harry back on with Chelsy
Another day, another twist in the Prince Harry / Chelsy Davy romance saga. Many of us guessed they were back on again after their recent joint holiday in southern Africa.

“They are very much back on,” the Mail has been told. “Harry came up to Leeds and it was all very hush-hush.

“They stayed at a mate’s house as there are always a load of photographers outside Chelsy’s place, so no one actually knew that Harry was in town.”

That was two weeks ago. Together with Chelsy’s invitation to the wedding next month, it looks like it’s normal service as usual.

Viscount Severn, the second child of Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, was Christened today at Windsor in a very private ceremony.

The service took place in a private chapel at Windsor Castle.

Rt Rev David Conner, the Dean of Windsor, conducted the service. In attendance were James’s godparents Denise Poulton, Jeanye Irwin, Alastair Bruce, Duncan Bullivant and Tom Hill.

James Alexander Philip Theo is the eighth in line to the throne and the first male grandchild for the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh since Prince Harry was born 23 years ago.

A Buckingham Palace press release gave minimal information about today’s Windsor Christening of Viscount Severn, the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s second child, now four months old.

Viscount Severn with his parents soon after his birth

“The Christening of Viscount Severn will take place at the private chapel at Windsor on 19 April 2008. ”

In a note for editors, the private nature of the occasion is stressed :

This is a private Christening. However, one official photograph, taken by Mr John Swannell, will be released to the media via Camera Press.

The Christening Gown worn by Viscount Severn is a hand-made replica of Queen Victoria’s daughter’s Christening Gown, which was worn at subsequent Royal Christenings and has now been preserved. It is the first time this gown has been worn by a member of the Royal Family and was commissioned by The Queen.

James Alexander Philip Theo, who has the title Viscount Severn and is the Queen’s eighth grandchild, became the first member of the Royal Family to wear a replica of the royal Christening robe.

The new robe was commissioned to preserve the frail original by the Queen herself, and was made by her personal assistant Angela Kelly and the in-house dressmaking team at Buckingham Palace.

Close family members of Edward and Sophie were expected to attend the event including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The couple’s second child was born by caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on December 17, weighing 6lb 2oz.

They have a four-year-old daughter, Lady Louise Windsor. James, the first male grandchild for the Queen and Prince Philip since the birth of Prince Harry 23 years ago, is eighth in line to the throne.