Prince William, Duchess Catherine and George
Britain's Prince William and Duchess Catherine are to break with royal tradition by asking close friends to be Prince George's godparents.
The royal couple are expected to name William's school friend Fergus Boyd as one of six godparents for their two-month-old baby, while Catherine is to ask her school pal Emilia d'Erlanger to be the little one's godmother.
The pair were rumoured to have lined up William's brother Prince Harry and Catherine's sister Pippa Middleton as godparents, but they are thought to be keen to choose their school and university friends in an attempt to give their first child a sense of "stability and normality" as he grows up.
A royal source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "They are rather unexpected off-the-wall choices for godparents - not the usual suspects of William's closest friends who we anticipated."
William's friend, nightclub owner Guy Pelly, was also touted as a possible godfather for George, but he recently confirmed he is not going to be one.
He said: "People have been coming up to me and shaking my hand offering their congratulations. They have got it all wrong. I spoke to William about it and he confirmed I am not going to be one."
George's christening is set to take place on October 23, and it has been reported that some of the royal family have been left off the guestlist because William and Catherine - who was known as Kate Middleton prior to the couple's wedding - want an "intimate, family affair".
Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are believed to be among those expected to miss out on the celebration.
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