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Royal Pics: Princess Charlotte christened but big brother Prince George steals the show

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London, July 6: It was a low-key ceremony when the newest member of British royal family -- Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, was christened.

The ceremony was held at a church on her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's country estate on Sunday, July 5. The ceremony was held to mark a milestone for the 9-week-old baby of Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton.

The princess arrived in a vintage black pram for her royal christening, attended by the Queen on her Sandringham estate. Thousands of members of the public gathered in a paddock outside the churchyard of St Mary Magdalene for the public appearance of William and Kate with their two children, who are third and fourth in line to the throne.

William and Kate walked up with their two children, Prince George walking hand in hand with his father while his mother walked with Charlotte in the Millson pram used by the Queen for her own children in the past.

This was the second time the princess was seen in public since her birth on May 2. The church is within walking distance of Anmer Hall, the duke and duchess of Cambridge's country mansion on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where they are bringing up their children.

Ahead of the ceremony on Sunday evening, Kensington Palace had confirmed William and Kate had picked William's cousin Laura Fellowes, Kate's cousin Adam Middleton and friends Thomas van Straubenzee, Sophie Carter and James Meade as five godparents of Charlotte.

Charlotte, who fourth in line to Britain's throne, wore the same gown worn by her brother at his christening, — a reproduction of the Victorian christening robe worn by royal babies since 1841.

The original became too fragile for further use after 2004. She was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most Rev Justin Welby in a ceremony attended by just 21 guests.

Prince Harry missed the event, being in Africa on a three-week tour. Royal watchers had highlighted how the ceremony was guided by the spirit of Charlotte's late grandmother Princess Diana, who was christened in the same church in 1961.

The royal event was captured by Mario Testino, the fashion and portrait photographer who shot the last official photographs of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997 shortly before her death in Paris that year.

Her influence was also felt in the duke and duchess of Cambridge's decision to invite well-wishers to share in the day.

Sunday's event saw William, Kate, George and Charlotte appear in public for the first time as a family of four. The area, which was also be used by television crews, is the same vantage point used by the public to greet members of the royal family after church on Christmas Day.

By contrast, the public caught only a glimpse of the guests and godparents at Prince George's christening at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in October 2013.

Although afternoon tea was hosted by the Queen at Sandringham House, the tone of the event was also less formal, in line with William’s wishes.

The guest list has been kept short, with most members of the royal family getting no closer than a glimpse on television. The guests were served slices of christening cake, taken from a tier of William and Kate's wedding cake.

The traditional Lily Font was also be used. The silver baptismal font was also commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 for the birth of their first child. It was first used in 1841, and has been used at every royal christening since then.

See pictures of the ceremony:

Princess Charlotte Christened

Princess Charlotte Christened

The newest member of British Royal Family, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana has been christened at a church on her great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's country estate on Sunday, July 5.

Princess Charlotte, Prince George wore same gown

Princess Charlotte, Prince George wore same gown

Princess Charlotte wore the same gown which her brother Prince George too had worn at his christening.

This gown is a reproduction of the Victorian christening robe worn by royal babies since 1841. The original became too fragile for further use after 2004.

The royal family of four

The royal family of four

Princess Charlotte arrived in a vintage black pram for her royal christening.

This was the first time when William, Kate, George and Charlotte appear in public as a family of four.

Princess Charlotte with mother Kate Middleton

Princess Charlotte was baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the most Rev Justin Welby in a ceremony attended by just 21 guests.

History repeated as Princess Charlotte christened

Princess Charlotte was taken to church in this Millson pram, previously used for Prince Edward and Prince Andrew.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)

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