Prince George’s christening is the event of this fall in London, after anticipation of his birth took over print and online press for months. New details about the ceremony that has been planned and who will attend are surfacing.
The big day, during which Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William will present their three-month-old son to be welcomed into the English Church, will take place on Wednesday, October 23 at St. James Palace in London.
More specifically at the Chapel Royal within the Palace, which is where Princess Diana’s body laid before her funeral in 1997.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly picked this particular setting because of the intimacy it offers and since they are only having family and close friends attending Prince George’s christening, it was the perfect location.
According to Us Weekly , a source reveals it is a special place for Prince William.
“Having the service there is his way of involving his mother, who he so wishes could be here for all of this.”
The royal couple has been known for honoring Diana on important occasions and are following her style of parenting, giving Prince George as normal an upbringing as possible.
Even though Kensington Palace will only reveal the list of guests on Wednesday, we can assume that those closest to William and Kate will attend including, of course, Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Prince Harry, Carole and Michael Middleton, Pippa and her brother James.
A source also tells Us the midwives who attended the delivery of Prince George will also be welcome at his christening, with the list of guests barely reaching the 50 mark, as promised by the Duke and Duchess.
The ceremony is expected to last for 45 minutes and will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, although his portion will only last for 25 minutes.
Hymns will be sung be a choir and prayers of blessing for the child will be said.
The source adds that they are following a “pretty tight schedule”, so if Prince George starts to cry, they will just carry on.
Following the service, a reception hosted by Prince Charles and his wife will take place at Clarence House , where the couple will serve the top tier of their wedding cake, as is tradition, and some champagne to go with it.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for the support and goodwill being expressed at this happy time. Their Royal Highnesses are grateful, too, for the many gifts they have already received,” the palace says.
Photos of the event will be available for those who are not invited on Thursday, October 24 and Kate Middleton and Prince William are encouraging people to donate to several charities instead of sending gifts for Prince George’s christening, who turns three months on Tuesday, October 22.