London, Sep 5: Former prime minister. Middle East envoy. Now Tony Blair is also revealed as godfather to one of Rupert Murdoch's daughters.
A person close to Blair confirmed Monday that the former British leader was the godfather of Grace Murdoch, now 9, when she and her younger sister Chloe were baptized at the River Jordan last year.
British media reported that the October issue of Vogue, which carries an interview with Murdoch's wife Wendi Deng, disclosed Blair's role in the ceremony. The report of Blair's involvement in the baptism was not attributed to her.
Vogue declined to release a copy of its story but referred a reporter to The Daily Telegraph's account.
Blair hadn't been shown or mentioned in extensive coverage of the baptism in Hello! magazine at the time.
Vogue interviewed Wendi Deng, the wife of the News Corp. chairman and chief executive.
News Corp. had no comment.
Blair hadn't been shown or mentioned in the 18 pages of coverage of the baptism in Hello! magazine at the time.
Among those reported to have attended what Hello! called "the magical baptism" were Jordan's Queen Rania, actors Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, and Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka.
Blair's presence at the event on the banks of the river -- claimed to be the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist -- underlined the political influence of Murdoch and News Corp., to which all British prime ministers since Margaret Thatcher have been attentive.
Murdoch's British newspapers endorsed Blair's Labour Party in three consecutive elections, but switched support last year to David Cameron, the current prime minister, and his Conservative Party.
In his memoirs published last year, Blair said he came to have "a grudging respect and even liking" for Murdoch despite their differences on Europe, social policy and gay rights.
"There were two points of connection: he was an outsider, and he had balls," Blair wrote.
Blair and Murdoch have yet another connection as fellow Roman Catholics. Murdoch has been honored as a papal knight, and Blair formally embraced the faith after leaving office in 2007. AP
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