Sunday, July 8, 2018

Prince Louis’ Christening





Tomorrow will be the first time we have seen His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Cambridge in public since his birth.  His christening will be held at 4pm London time at the Chapel Royal, St. James's Palace.

The service will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby (who recently wed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle).  The Royal Family, godparents, and guests will stand near the font, and the baby will be carried into the chapel by his nanny and a lady-in-waiting. 

This Chapel is steeped in royal history.  Queen Victoria was married to Prince Albert there in 1840, as were King George V and Queen Mary in 1893.  This is also the Chapel where the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales, was taken before her funeral at Westminster Abbey.


A small choir of six men and 10 boys will be seated beneath the stained-glass window as they perform a selection of spiritual songs.


The 5th in line to the throne (behind Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince George, and Princess Charlotte) will be christened with holy water flown into the UK from the River Jordan (specially sterilized, of course).  The Lily Font bowl is a silver-gilt Font used by the Royal Family since 1840.
 It will be brought in from the Tower of London, where it is kept with other royal treasures.
See the source image

Prince Louis will wear the same gown worn by his brother Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte.  It is an exact replica of the gown commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert when their first child, Victoria was baptized.  Sixty two royal babies were christened in that gown, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry.


See the source image
Christening gown commissioned by Queen Victoria

Lady Louise Windsor was the last royal to wear the gown as it was deemed to be too fragile to wear.  Queen Elizabeth II then commissioned a new gown and her royal dressmaker Angela Kelly made the gown.

So what will Kate wear?  For Prince George's christening she wore an Alexander McQueen creamy white dress with ruffle detail. 

Mother and son in outfits that dreams are made of!!!


The immediate family in the official portrait for Prince George's christening, October 23, 2013.


For Princess Charlotte's christening, Kate chose an Alexander McQueen cream-colored coat dress.


The official family portrait for Princess Charlotte's christening, July 5, 2015.


Thank you for joining me today.  Have a wonderful week.

2 comments:

Gramspearls said...

Dear Miss Janice,

What an excellent presentation of all the interesting facts about the royal christening. Now I have something to share (bore) my husband with at dinner this evening! I love all the Royals.....him, not so much, although he did watch the actual marriage of Megan and Harry. That's something.

Warmly, Kathleen

PS The lampshade is perfect. Many thanks.

Hidden Magnolias said...

Great post. I didn't know that about the christening gown, which I thought was just lovely.
Thanks you!