Charlotte, royal family's newest princess, to be christened in Norfolk
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Version 0 of 1. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their two children will appear in public for the first time as a family of four on Sunday when Princess Charlotte is christened in front of the Queen and close family. Large crowds are expected to gather for a glimpse of the nine-week-old at her baptism at St Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham, Norfolk – walking distance from Prince William and Kate’s country mansion, Anmer Hall. Guests at the christening will include: Charlotte’s great-grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; her grandparents, the Prince of Wales and Carole and Michael Middleton; her step-grandmother, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and Kate’s siblings (and Charlotte’s aunt and uncle), Pippa and James Middleton. William and Kate will also bring along their son, Prince George, who turns two later this month. Charlotte’s godparents – most of whom are likely to be close friends of William and Kate – will be announced ahead of the service and be among the small congregation in the 16th-century church. The ceremony, to be conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, is private but members of the public are expected to gather outside the church. As with George’s baptism, several senior royals are expected to be missing. In October 2013 when George was christened at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace in London, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Earl of Wessex were not present. Prince Harry will miss this christening, having already left to spend three months in Africa. The church is used by the Queen when she is in residence on her private estate and is where the royal family worship on Christmas Day each year. Peruvian fashion photographer Mario Testino has been asked by William and Kate to take the official photographs after the service. Testino – the favourite photographer of Charlotte’s late grandmother, Diana, Princess of Wales – has worked with William, Kate, Charles and Camilla but never done an official shoot which included the Queen. |