Prince George’s teacher set to marry Prince William’s best friend

A teacher at Prince George’s school is set to marry the Duke of Cambridge’s best friend – with the five-year-old royal expected to be a page boy at the wedding.

Lucy Lanigan-O’Keeffe, the assistant head teacher at Thomas’s Clapham, said yes to Thomas van Straubenzee when he proposed last week.

Mr van Straubenzee is an old friend of Prince William – who was one of the first to hear of the engagement – and is also the godfather to four-year-old Princess Charlotte.

One of the couple’s friends said in April: ‘They are very happy and have been going out for some months now. It’s a serious relationship.’

Mr van Straubenzee, 36, who is the boss at the private office of property firm Knight Frank, married the Duke of Northumberland’s daughter Lady Melissa Percy in 2013.

Their wedding was held at her family’s ancestral home Alnwick Castle, which doubles as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Princes William and Harry were among the guests.

Mr van Straubenzee is an old friend of Prince William (pictured with Prince George) – who was one of the first to hear of the engagement – and is also the godfather to four-year-old Princess Charlotte

But within three years they split, with Mr van Straubenzee finding love with 31-year old Ms Lanigan-O’Keeffe.

Lady Melissa, or ‘Missy’ to her friends, moved to New York to live with hedge fund boss Remy Trafelet.

Mr van Straubenzee’s friends were said to be delighted he was smiling again after his divorce.

Charity-minded Ms Lanigan-O’Keeffe, whose brother is Irish Olympic pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe, runs the social action projects for Thomas’s schools across London.

The teacher is originally from Co Kilkenny, Ireland, and the barrister Stephen Lanigan-O’Keeffe is her father.

Ms Lanigan-O’Keeffe has had contact with Prince George during her outdoor learning and mindfulness classes at the school’s Battersea site.

And Charlotte will join her brother at when the new year starts in September.

The link between the couple and the Cambridges may come as little surprise, as the Royal and van Straubenzee family have historically been close.

It has continued into the 21st century, with Van Straubenzee’s 31-year-old brother Charlie being a friend to Prince Harry.

It has even been reported that he may become baby Archie’s godfather when he is christened in July.

Mr van Straubenzee, 36, who is the boss at the private office of property firm Knight Frank, married the Duke of Northumberland’s daughter Lady Melissa Percy in 2013. Their wedding was held at her family’s ancestral home Alnwick Castle, which doubles as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films. Princes William and Harry were among the guests (pictured)

Charlie and Thomas, who went to Ludgrove School in Berkshire with the princes, were ushers at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding last May, and it is expected Prince Harry and William will both appear at Thomas’s wedding.

The van Straubenzee’s older brother Henry died in a car crash when he was just 18.

A memorial fund was set up by parents Alexander and Claire and the two princes are patrons.

When Prince William went to New Zealand in 2005 for his first tour abroad, Thomas was with him on the Queen’s suggestion.