Prince George has arrived for his christening wearing a replica of the traditional royal baptism gown designed in 1841. Tradition will be upheld throughout the ceremony which will be followed by guests being served a tier that was saved from William and Kate’s wedding cake.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen two hymns, two lessons and two anthems for the christening of their son, Prince George. The Hymns are Breathe on Me, Breath of God and Be Thou My Vision.
Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton will read passages from the Bible (St. John ch. 15, verses 1-5 and St. Luke ch. 18, verses 15-17.)
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The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal will perform Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand, which was written for Prince William’s baptism on 4th August 1982.
Kensington Palace has finally released the names of the close friends of William and Kate who have been chosen as godparents.
There is just one titled peer of the realm among them, Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, the son of the Duke of Westminster, a major break from Royal tradition which has previously seen heirs given godparents chosen entirely from European royal families and titled English families.
Back in 1982, William’s godparents included the former King Constantine of Greece, Princess Alexandra (aka the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, a granddaughter of King George V), Natalia Grosvenor (aka the Duchess of Westminster, another royal relative), and Lady Susan Hussey (a lady in waiting to the queen). In other words, it was unthinkable for a godparent to a future king to be anything other than a titled member of the aristocracy.
The full list also includes Mr Oliver Baker (Oliver attended the University of St Andrews with The Duke and Duchess), society decorator Emilia Jardine-Paterson (nee d’Erlanger) who attended Marlborough College with Kate and also helped redecorate Kensington Palace, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, who is well known to the media corps covering the Royals as he served as private secretary to William and Harry from 2005-2012, Julia Samuel, a close friend of Princess Diana’s and the founder of the charity Child Bereavement UK, Zara Philips and William van Cutsem (a childhood friend of William).
William and Kate will be pleased that not one media outlet named all six godparents correctly. They are, as usual, determined to preserve as much privacy as possible for them, their son, and their guests.
Kensington Palace have let it be known that the godparents will not speak to the media.
Other confirmed attendees for the small ceremony at The Chapel Royal within St James’s Palace include The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry, Mr and Mrs Michael Middleton, Mr James Middleton and Miss Pippa Middleton.
Not invited are uncles Anne, Edward or Andrew or their spouses.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, will baptise Prince George.
