The Royal Christening : Past Royal Christenings

Click.
Part I: The Ceremony
Part II: The Official Photographs
Part III: The Godparents

When Prince George was christened, so long ago that it's ridiculous that I'm still writing about it, there were inevitable comparisons between his christening and that of his parents, and between his christening and that of other royal babies christened in the near past.

I don't think it right to compare it to the christenings of Princesses Estelle and Athena, who were the only babies born in the last two years, because a)Their position relative to the crown varies; Estelle is second in line, George is third in line, and Athena is far enough down the line to not even have the slightest chance of being Queen (tenth), b)Different countries, different traditions, and c)These baby royals aren't related to each other in any way, so there will be absolutely no resemblance. Which is why this post will cover only the christenings of Prince George's parents, even though one of them was born a commoner (The title is a bit misleading, yes).

Catherine Elizabeth Middleton
June 20th, 1982

A random fun fact is that Catherine (Kate. Call her what you want) was christened one day before Prince William was born. At the time she was christened, she was five and a half months old, a full two and half months older than three-month old Prince George at the time of his christening. But, like baby George, she had a massive head, almost as big as her mother's (Prince George also has a massive head, but there aren't any pictures of him here because there are quite enough in the previous posts). Although, I suppose that's because she's almost twice his age.

I guess Prince George looks like her.

Prince William Arthur Philip Louis
August 4, 1982

Prince William, in this picture, was not even three months old. Or even two months old. Must be a royal baby thing, to be christened as early as possible.
Anyway, his christening took place in the Music Room in Buckingham Palace, as opposed to his future wife's which just took place at her local chapel. It was all very traditional and boring and the Queen Mother was there, here is a picture of Prince William stealing the show at his brother's christening.

I guess Prince George looks like him, too.

Actually, Prince George doesn't look like anyone. He's a baby. He looks like a baby. People should stop trying to figure out which of his parents he looks more like and just leave the family be.

And, with that sentiment, I conclude my four part christening special. I hope that no one who read it completely despised it. If you did, I'm sorry. Go read something on Royal Central instead. It's a really good website. Unless it's me you have a problem with, in which case don't. I write for Royal Central too.

No post next Sunday.

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The Royal Christening : The Godparents

Click here and here for parts 1 and 2 respectively.

Seven godparents were chosen for Prince George by his parents, and, in news that shocked everyone, neither Prince Harry nor Pippa Middleton were one of them. As consolation, they were both allowed to read a passage from the Bible at the christening service and appear in the official photographs afterwards. Also, they got cake (The top tier of the one from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's wedding, two years ago).

Here is the complete list of godparents. They, along with their spouses, were the only guests at the christening apart from immediate family.

Zara Tindall
Age: 32
Known As: The Queen's oldest granddaughter and Prince William's cousin

I was so pleased when I heard that Zara was to be Prince George's godmother. Zara Phillips is one of my favourite members of the royal family, and my favourite potential godparent after Jecca Craig. And even though she has said that she doesn't want to lead a royal lifestyle, I can't help but think that she feels a little resentful about William and Kate overshadowing her all the time. At her wedding, just a few months after their own. When she announced her pregnancy, only for Prince George to be born a couple of weeks later and unknowingly steal all of the attention. Even at the 2012 Olympics, people did focus a lot more on Kate than they did on Zara, and Zara won a silver medal. Kate just looked pretty and hugged her husband.

I don't know whether the Duke and Duchess made her godmother because they feel that way too, and want to make it up to her, but it is a lovely gesture. Prince William and Zara Phillips were very close growing up, and hopefully, now that Zara is godmother, their children will be close too.

Julia Samuel
Age: 52
Known As: An old friend of Princess Diana

I don't know anything about Mrs. Samuel except that she was a good friend of Prince William's mother, and that she's married to a Mr. Michael Samuel, which I read on the guest list.

Most probably, Prince William's choosing her as godmother to his son was a way of remembering his mother on yet another special occasion. Why he didn't choose a member of the Spencer family, I don't know. Either way, he's making sure that Prince George knows who Princess Diana was, and never forgets her. [On a side note, I wonder if Catherine will ever become Princess of Wales, or whether she'll just be the Duchess of Cornwall, and if so, will Prince George's wife be Princess of Wales, or will there never be a Princess of Wales as long as Diana's memory lives on? If you have any idea, tweet it at me, or if you know someone who knows a lot about royalty, ask them, and then tweet it at me. I am suddenly very curious. Twitter: @JustAsSaneAsMe]

Oliver Baker
Age: 31
Known As: A friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Oliver Baker went to the University of St. Andrews with William Wales and Kate Middleton. He was friends with them both, and, like William, also met his wife Mel at university. According to the Daily Mail, Oliver stayed in the same farmhouse as William during his last year at St. Andrews, and Mel and Kate shared a flat in Chelsea before they got married. And now Oliver is Prince George's godfather.

Emilia Jardine-Paterson
Age: 31
Known As: A friend of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Emilia d'Erlanger, as she is better known, was a friend of the Duchess of Cambridge when she was in Marlborough College and still just Kate Middleton. She apparently introduced the Duke and Duchess, and helped design the interiors of Kensington Palace. She got married to David Jardine-Paterson in 2009, and it was to her wedding that Kate wore this fascinator that I like so much.

Hugh Grosvenor
Age: 22
Known As: Earl Grosvenor

Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, is the only son of the Duke of Westminster, and therefore the heir to a LOT of money. And quite a lot of land too. Hugh's family and Prince William's family are quite well connected, so that's a fair reason to make him a godparent. Prince Charles is Hugh's godfather, and Hugh's mother, Natalia, is Prince William's godmother. Also, Hugh's sister is married to a van Cutsem, and the aunt of Grace Van Cutsem, who was the grumpy flower girl at the royal wedding.

Or maybe William and Kate are buying into all the terrible articles about the collapse of the monarchy after Queen Elizabeth, and getting George a rich godparent with the idea that he should enjoy a lavish lifestyle even after the monarchy falls.

He looks like a child.

William van Cutsem
Age: 34
Known As: A member of the van Cutsem family

William(van Cutsem)'s father, Hugh van Cutsem, was a close friend of Prince Charles, and William (van Cutsem) was a childhood friend of William (Prince of the United Kingdom). The van Cutsem family is quite rich and well connected, and they move about in the same social circles as Princes William and Harry.

It was William(van Cutsem)'s eldest brother Edward who married Lady Tamara Grosvenor, and his elder brother Hugh is Grace van Cutsem's father. These family trees are only just becoming clear to me.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton
Age: 52
Known As: Private Secretary of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton began his career as Equerry to the Queen Mother, and rose quickly until, in 2005, he was appointed as Private Secretary to Princes William and Harry, and also the Duchess of Cambridge when she married into the family in 2011. Last month, he resigned from the post, but agreed to consult the Duke and Duchess once a week.

His son, William Lowther-Pinkerton was a page boy at the royal wedding.

There are a lot of people in the royal circles called William. Also Hugh. Weird.

Sunday will be the last post in this series, in which I talk about my favourite royal christenings, after which posts will resume as normal.

Or maybe not.

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Images : Daily Mail/Vanity Fair