Shawl for a Prince

The Royal Baby's Gorgeous Knitted Shawl and Its Intriguing Origin

You, dear knitters, have probably already noticed that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrapped their newborn son in a gorgeous knitted shawl. Everyone assumed, it was designed by Margaret Stove, widely known for her book "Wrapped in Lace" and who also once created a shawl for Prince William. However, a respected source clarified that Margaret had no connection to the current shawl. Instead, the parents of the prince decided to use a shawl made by a local craftswoman named Cynthia Read from Cambridge, as stated by the author of the article "NZ welcomes royal baby with gift of shawl". 

Discovering the Christening Shawl: A Valuable Find in an English Online Store

After an extensive search, I was delighted to discover this beautiful shawl available in an esteemed English online store. This lovely piece is none other than the christening shawl from G.H. Hurt & Son. Notably, its value has surged thanks to widespread media coverage. Interestingly, it was revealed that this famous shawl was crafted using a knitting machine.

Unraveling the Design: The Orenburg Lace Connection

Presented below, is one of the conjectured design variations of the shawl. According to the article "Royal baby shawl", the motifs are believed to be either borrowed from or linked to the rich Orenburg lace tradition.

A Royal Comparison: Princess Diana and Prince William's Shawl

For comparative purposes, a picture of Princess Diana with her newborn, Prince William, is provided below. While the shawl may be scarcely visible, it is evident that its design is entirely distinct from the current one.

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Enchanting Shawls for Special Moments from Nancy Bush

By the way, while discussing these special shawls crafted for momentous occasions, it's worth mentioning another captivating piece by Nancy Bush. This particular shawl holds greater intricacy and significance as it was originally created for the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolf back in 1936. The talented knitter, Julie Waldman, expertly brought it to life, using the design conceptualized by her daughter, Matilda Möl. Fascinatingly, the description of this remarkable shawl was initially published in the book "Knitted Lace of Estonia."