Princess Beatrice’s pal Alice Naylor-Leyland gives her newborn surrogate daughter a ‘designer’ christening
Princess Beatrice’s friend Alice Naylor-Leyland surprised friends earlier this year by announcing that she and her husband had had a child via a surrogate mother in America.
She already had three children with Tom Naylor-Leyland, who is heir to a baronetcy and Fitzwilliam’s £176 million landowner fortune.
Now Alice, 38, has arranged for her daughter Margot to have a ‘designer’ christening.
The baby was christened last weekend at St Mary the Virgin Church in Marholm, Cambridgeshire, near her husband’s family home, Milton Hall.
Margot’s godmothers were fashion designer Emilia Wickstead, whose clients included the Princess of Wales and Lady (Samantha) Cameron, and Emerald Fennell, the Oscar-winning director of Saltburn.
Princess Beatrice’s friend Alice Naylor-Leyland has given her surrogate daughter a ‘designer’ christening
The baby was christened last weekend at St Mary the Virgin Church in Marholm, Cambridgeshire, near her husband’s family home, Milton Hall
Alice with Princess Beatrice at a VIP dinner in honour of Mrs Alice for French Sole at The Connaught Hotel in London
“We couldn’t have felt more love,” Alice says.
In April, she explained why she used a surrogate. “I know it was greedy to have this burning desire to complete our family,” she said.
‘But due to too many complications, setbacks, miscarriages and the news that I could no longer carry children, we decided to try surrogacy.’
She thanked the anonymous surrogate, saying, “Without the kindness and courage of our sweet surrogate and the brilliance of modern science using our own embryo, we would not be here.”
Alice added: ‘It’s been an insane journey but now we’re here I can’t wait to enjoy every moment.’
Announcing her new baby, the socialite shared photos of the adorable Margot wrapped in pink fabric.
“Meet Margot, our little miracle,” the caption read. “Born on 14.04.2024, we are still so grateful for our precious girl.”
Alice described the surrogacy process as a “crazy journey” and said the couple took the option after “too many complications, setbacks and miscarriages”
Alice shared photos of her fourth baby, Margot, wrapped in pink fabric
Although commercial surrogacy is common in the US, in the UK it is only legal if the mother is not paid, unless there are ‘reasonable’ expenses.
Alice runs a company that sells themed dining sets. Among the guests at the launch of her first pop-up store for her “Mrs Alice” spring tableware collection in California was Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon.
Since 2022, the Naylor-Leylands have lived with their children at Stibbington House in Cambridgeshire, where they enjoy entertaining friends from high society.
The couple are also said to have a flat in Chelsea, London, and a family home in Malton, North Yorkshire, where his family owns the 17th-century Talbot Hotel. He is credited with helping transform Malton into a foodie hotspot.