Britain’s Prince George was baptised yesterday.
The three-month-old royal’s christening took place at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in London in a private affair attended by his parents, Prince William and Duchess Catherine, as well as other senior royals and four members of the Middleton family, his seven godparents and 22 guests.
Catherine carried the little one out of the chapel after the ceremony, which was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, after William had carried the youngster into the event.
George – the third in line to the throne – wore a replica of the traditional lace and satin christening gown created for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose three hymns, ‘Breathe on Me’, ‘Breath of God’ and ‘Be Thou My Vision’, which were played at the ceremony.
Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton – who were not named as George’s godparents, despite speculation they were in line for the roles – read Bible passages from St Luke and St John, and two anthems were performed by the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, who also performed at William and Catherine’s wedding.
Following the ceremony, guests headed to Clarence House for tea hosted by George’s grandfather, Prince Charles.
Earlier in the day, an official statement from Kensington Palace confirmed George will have seven godparents, including William’s cousin Zara Phillips.
The duke and duchess also chose Oliver Baker – a university friend from St Andrews in Scotland – David Jardine-Patterson, who attended Marlborough college with the duchess, and Earl Grosvenor, the son of the Duke of Westminster.
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, William and Catherine’s private secretary from 2005 to 2012, was also named as a godparent, as was Julia Samuel, a close friend of William’s late mother Princess Diana, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of the duke.
