WILLIAM, Kate, Prince George and Princess Charlotte have appeared in public as
a family of four for the first time on the way to their baby daughter’s
christening.
The Cambridges and their children made the short journey on foot from
Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church for the ceremony.
The Duchess of Cambridge was taken up a slope to a side entrance where she was
met by the Rev Canon Jonathan Riviere.
Charlotte was seen crying as she was pulled from her vintage Millson pram,
which the Queen used when Princes Andrew and Edward were babies.
In a moving tribute to the grandmother she will never know, the newest Royal
was christened Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana in the same church where
Diana herself was baptised in August 1961.
Charlotte, aged two months and three days, wore the same silk and Honiton lace
gown worn by big brother George for his 2013 christening.
The flowing ivory garment is a replica of one worn by 62 royal babies since
Queen Victoria commissioned it for her eldest daughter Victoria, in 1841.
Made by the Queen’s dressmaker Angela Kelly in 2004, it has also been worn by
James, Viscount Severn – son of Prince Edward – and Isla and Savannah, the
daughters of Peter Phillips.
Kate looked stunning in an ivory Alexander McQueen dress coat and matching hat
by Jane Taylor.
Little Prince George – waving to the adoring crowd – drew gasps dressed in a
white t-shirt and red shorts.
It was the same outfit his dad William wore the first time he met Prince Harry
in 1984.
They were joined inside by Charlotte’s great-grandparents The Queen and Prince
Philip, and both sets of grandparents, Prince Charles and wife Camilla and
Carole and Michael Middleton.
Charlotte’s aunt Pippa and uncle James Middleton also attended, without their
partners Nico Jackson and Donna Air.
The private, half-hour service was led by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby and the Rev Canon Riviere, rector of the Sandringham group of
parishes.
In another tribute to William’s mother, the Cambridges chose her niece Laura
Fellowes, daughter of Princess Diana’s older sister Jane, as one of two
godmothers, along with Kate’s old friend Sophie Carter.
Two of William’s oldest friends, Thomas van Straubenzee and James Meade became
godfathers to his daughter, along with Kate’s cousin Adam Middleton.
Guests entered the church to organ music from R Vaughan Williams’ Prelude on
Rhosymedre.
Led by the Sandringham Church Choir they sang two hymns chosen by the Duke and
Duchess, Praise to the Lord, The Almighty and Come Down, O Love Divine.
James Meade read the lesson, from Matthew 18, verses 1-5.
The service also featured two anthems by John Rutter, I Will Sing With The
Spirit and God Be In My Head and the recessional music from Handel’s
Overture and Allegro from Concerto VIII in A.
Afterwards the christening party will enjoy afternoon tea hosted by the Queen
at Sandringham House.
Following tradition, they will be served a tier of William and Kate’s 2011
wedding cake, before sitting for official photographs by world-famous
fashion photographer Mario Testino.