No tears for newly christened Prince George
by FFE Entertainment News staff
Prince George during his christening. Photo source: Natalie Finn
Prince George was the image of the perfect baby during his christening.
In an occasion usually marked by crying, the Duke of Cambridge remarked his first born was ‘quiet all day.’ Unlike his father who bawled during and after his own christening, Prince George did not even raise a whimper when water from the Jordan River was trickled on his head.
The unimpressed Prince George, who seemed to be taking everything in a stride, wore a replica of the 172-year-old royal christening robe. The Duchess of Cambridge, who wore an Alexander McQueen cream jacket and skirt, said she was ‘very excited’ upon arriving at the Chapel Royal of St James’s Palace.
The service was very intimate with a guest list consisting of 22 names. Apart from the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the parents and siblings of the royal couple, only seven godparents and their spouses were in attendance. Among them were royal family member Zara Tindall, a few friends of the Duke and Duchess from their university days, and Julia Samuel, a former friend of Diana, Princess of Wales.
Others in attendance were Earl Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster, the royal couple’s private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, and William van Cutsem, an old friend of the Duke. Jessie Webb, Prince William’s former nanny and now part-time nanny to Prince George, also attended the service but was not listed as a guest.
The Queen wore a fitting baby blue for the occasion, but for the first time was upstaged when Prince George made his entrance in his father’s arms.
During the ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the parents and godparents a simple task: ‘Make sure he knows who this Jesus is. Speak of him, read stories about him. Introduce him in prayer. Help him to grow and flourish into the person God has created and has called him to be.’
The hymns chosen by the Duke and Duchess were ‘Breathe on Me, Breath of God’ and ‘Be Thou My Vision.’ The latter was also used at the memorial service to mark Princess Diana’s 10th death anniversary. Like the couples’ choice of the Chapel Royal, the song was another way to ensure Diana’s presence was felt in the milestones of Prince Williams’s life.
After the ceremony, the party walked a short distance to Clarence House for the champagne reception.