As Prince Harry re-introduces the world to his girlfriend, Cressida Bonas, we take a look at just who Cressida is, (how to pronounce her name), whether she’s likely to be a long-term girlfriend for Harry (or more) and more.
Cressida Bonas (name pronounced as ‘Cres-seeda’ as helpfully pointed out by Victoria Arbiter on Twitter today) has been romantically linked with Prince Harry after photographs of the two together and hugging were published across the world. Cressida Bonas, known as ‘Cressie’ to friends, is to start with, the half-sister of Prince William’s ex-crush, actress and model, Isabella Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe.
Cressida went to Stowe School in Buckingham, before going to Leeds University to study dance. She is 24 years old and is daughter of Lady Mary Gaye, who in turn is the daughter of the 6th Earl Of Howe, making Cressida (as well as by virtue of other things) a member of the upper classes, unlike the Duchess Of Cambridge who has always been noted for her middle-class origins.
It is believed that Princess Eugenie of York fixed Prince Harry up with Cressida, though this has never been confirmed. Cressida was first linked to Prince Harry last summer after they were seen together after the premiere of the Dark Knight Rises in July 2012.
It is believed that the couple went through a difficult time when photographs of Prince Harry in Las Vegas were published in the media but she accepted him back and now Prince Harry is reported to be ‘serious’ about Cressida and according to some sources, believes that Cressida is The One!
Interestingly also, Cressida Bonas appears on Tatler’s list of people who matter. Cressida has currently rocketed to the top of the of the list now. The nearest member of the Royal Family to Cressida on the list at the moment is the Duchess of Cambridge at 11th. The list changes all the time an is based on current happenings.
Cressida is very much eligible to marry Prince Harry. For the conservative-minded royal watchers, she is of a good pedigree, closely descended from an Earl, she has a nice personality, which is much required in the business of Royalty and she seems to be unfazed by media attention. Cressida could well be, as it has been termed, ‘The One’ for Prince Harry. Whatever happens however, it’ll be fun watching.
Just on a point of accuracy, Miss Bonas’s mother is Lady Mary-Gaye Curzon (now Lady Mary-Gaye Shaw, I believe). Gaye is part of her Christian name, not the family surname, which is Curzon (thus linking Miss Bonas to the Barons Ravensworth and the Viscounts Scarsdale – descendants of the late Marquess Curzon of Kedleston). Her father was the 6th Earl Howe (not ‘Earl of Howe’) and on his death without male heirs in 1984, the earldom passed to the present earl, a great-grandson of the 3rd Earl. This makes Miss Bonas and the current Earl Howe second cousins (twice removed).