Kate, William's son Prince George is christened , see Photos ~ DAPALS' ZONE

Kate, William's son Prince George is christened , see Photos

Sarah Dapal10:16 No comments

Queen Elizabeth II, usually the center of attention, quietly ceded the spotlight to her rosy-cheeked great-grandson, who seemed to wave at her when he arrived — an illusion created by his father, Prince William, playfully moving the infant's arm. (AP)

Prince William and Kate Middleton christened their baby son yesterday at St James's Palace, giving the world it's second public glimpse of the future king of England.

Prince George was baptized by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the historic Chapel Royal.

Dressed in a lace and satin gown designed in the 1840s, Britain's three-month-old future monarch, Prince George, was christened on Wednesday (October 23) with water from the River Jordan at a rare gathering of four generations of the royal family. (AP)

George, who was born on July 22, wore a replica of a christening gown made with exquisite antique lace for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, and first used in 1841. In this picture mother Kate Middleton holds her son.

When William was christened in 1982, he wore the original gown — by then well over a century old — but the garment has become so fragile that a replica was made. The infant, who will head the Church of England when he becomes king, was christened with water from the River Jordan by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. Prince William, Kate Duchess of Cambridge with their son Prince George leave the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace in London, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. (AP)

All told, it was an exceptional day for a monarchy that seems to be basking in public affection since the 2011 wedding of William and Kate Middleton and the maturing of Prince Harry, who appears to have put his playboy days behind him. Prince Harry leaves after the christening of Prince George at St James's Palace. (Reuters)

The private affair at the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace was also attended by Prince Charles, next in line to the throne, and the queen's 92-year-old husband, Prince Philip, who has shown remarkable stamina since returning to the public eye after a two-month convalescence following serious abdominal surgery. (Reuters)

The silver baptismal font — known as the Lily Font — dates to 1840 when it was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for their first child's birth, and has been used for every royal christening since. As trumpets blared, baby George arrived at the chapel in his father's arms with his mother by their side. (AP)

Kate Middleton, smiling broadly on her way into the chapel, wore a cream-colored Alexander McQueen dress and hat by milliner Jane Taylor, with her long hair brushed to the side. William wore his customary dark suit and tie as he proudly carried their first child. (AP)

Kate's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, and her sister, Pippa, and brother, James, were also at the ceremony, where Pippa Middleton read from the Gospel of St. Luke and Prince Harry from the Gospel of St. John. (Reuters)

Palace officials said water from the River Jordan — where Christians believe Jesus Christ was baptized — was used for the christening. Afterward, Charles and his wife, Camilla, hosted a tea for the royal party at their Clarence House residence, where desserts included a "christening cake" with a tier taken from William and Kate's wedding cake. Kate carries her son Prince George after his christening. (AP)

William and Kate chose seven godparents, among them William's cousin, Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and a close friend of the couple. The others include Oliver Baker, a friend from William and Kate's days at St. Andrews University; Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the exclusive Marlborough College high school with Kate; Hugh Grosvenor, the son of the Duke of Westminster; Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to the couple; Julia Samuel, a close friend of Princess Diana, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of William's. (Reuters)

The couple hired photographer Jason Bell to take official pictures, which are expected to include a historic multigenerational photograph of the queen with the three future kings — an image that will echo an 1894 picture of Queen Victoria with three future monarchs. Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves after the christening of Prince George. (Reuters)

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