Live coverage as the future king is baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace
• Read a summary of what happened
• Read a summary of what happened
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I was there for the wedding. I was there for the birth. But did William and Kate make me a godparent to little George? No, they did not.
The lucky seven who will take my place instead at today’s christening ceremony for the future king at the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace will be: Zara Tindall, the royal Olympian and William’s cousin; friends Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl (Hugh) Grosvenor, Julia Samuel and William van Cutsem; and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the couple’s part-time principal private secretary and equerry. An equerry is a personal attendant. You don’t have one?
Hold on a second … Van Cutsem? I know that name. Someone from Made in Chelsea … ? No, wait, it was that sweet little flower girl who put her hands over her ears at William and Kate’s wedding. With a bit of luck her uncle William will do the same today. Although since he is an adult it may look slightly less cute.
As Caroline Davies explains here, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have broken with tradition by choosing friends as godparents instead of senior royals (Zara excepted).
Who else is going to be at there? The Queen, of course, the Duke of Edinburgh, Charles and Camilla, Prince Harry, and Kate’s parents Carole and Michael and her siblings Pippa and James.
The christening will take place at 3pm. Prince George, who is three months old, will be baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, using water from the River Jordan, at the Lily Font, a silver baptismal font commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the birth of their daughter Victoria.
Following the service, guests will attend a private tea at Clarence House, hosted by Prince Charles, where guests will be served christening cake.
We’ll have live coverage of it all here as it happens, although I’m going to level with you now and say it’s going to slightly tricky.
The official photographer is celebrity snapper Jason Bell, but his pictures are not expected to be released until tomorrow, and anyway he won’t start taking them until after the ceremony.
A Press Association photographer will be on hand to take photos of the guests arriving and leaving, but he or she won’t be allowed inside the chapel. And neither will any reporters – not even Caroline.
As Johnny Cash might have put it, I’ve live-blogged tougher events, but I really can’t remember when.
Labour MP Stella Creasy points out that, in some ways, the royal family is actually still a bit old-fashioned and traditionalist.
(You can see the evidence here.)
And the Huffington Post tweets this picture of “Prince George fans” in celebratory mood.
The HuffPo also posts this picture of a giant christening card outside the chapel.
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail has run a series of pictures by artist Alison Jackson, who has produced some of her trademark lookalike images, this time of the royal couple and their nipper. “This is so disrespectful!” laments reader jayjay on the Mail site. I guess you can't please all of the people all of the time.
3.15pm update: We also published the Alison Jackson pics, which you can see here.
Updated
My colleague Lauren Cochrane from the Guardian's fashion desk will be on hand today give us the lowdown on the guests' outfits. She's starting off with Prince George himself:
While what his mother will wear for his christening is still a subject of heated fashion debate, Prince George's outfit for the big day has already been revealed.A reproduction of a christening gown worn by royal babies since 1841, it's appropriately luxurious for its royal occupant – long and made of ivory satin and yards of delicate lace, it has little puffed sleeves.The original, now too fragile to wear, has been worn by George's royal ancestors since Queen Victoria's daughter. You can see Prince William wearing it below.Edward VII was the first monarch to be christened in it and George's father and grandfather will have contributed to a build-up of royal dribble.This new one – in use since 2008 – hands the dribbling duties to George and his future siblings. It could also be interpreted as a subtle evolution in royal dress: keeping traditions alive but polishing them up a bit.
Water from the River Jordan they’re going to baptise him with? My colleague Haroon Siddique tells me that’s actually fairly common; he’s been to Jordan and they sell the stuff there by the bottle. You can even buy it on Amazon, “very lightly scented with a gentle scent of Holy Land Flowers to eliminate staleness and to keep freshness”. I’m not saying that’s where Justin Welby got his bottle from. It could have been eBay.
My colleague Katy Stoddard from the Guardian’s research department has been looking up how the Guardian reported the christenings of other key royals.
In 1982, when the Guardian was 23p, Prince William appeared on the front page in the arms of the Queen Mother in a story written by my former colleague Martin Wainwright, which began: “Dribbling slightly but otherwise well-behaved, Prince William of Wales was christened yesterday … “ No dribbling today, please, William.
This may come as a surprise for those who think it’s only recently that the Guardian has gone royal-crazy, but there were two further pictures of William on page two and another of him with Charles and Diana on the back page.
Two years later, Prince Harry’s christening also made the front page, but without a picture, and with the focus of the piece (written by Staff Reporter, still a regular correspondent today) on the fact that Princess Anne missed the whole thing, something Staff Reporter seemed to find vaguely significant, although he or she couldn’t quite spit it out and say what it all meant. Princess Anne’s daughter Zara was there, though, as she will be today.
A couple of days later, the Observer printed a story about the 1985 edition of Old Moore’s Almanack, which predicted that William would “have problems with romance” despite (or perhaps because of) his being “likely to be highly attractive to the opposite sex”. The Almanack predicted William would marry “between the ages of 26 and 29” (correct! He was 28), but it predicted – and I’m sorry to mention this – that “the relationship will have initial problems, and later, when in his early forties, a pattern of emotional upheaval emerges. It is possible that William could marry twice, and it is in his second relationship that he will find happiness and fulfilment,” the Almanack concludes treasonably.
The paper also ran a poem by then-poet laureate Ted Hughes marking Harry’s christening, which focused on the drenching rain that broke a “five month drought” that day.
Further back in the mists of time, Prince Charles's christening in 1948only made page three (although in those days the first couple of pages were always ads), with the main news angle being the fact that some of the subjects who turned out for the occasion, "deceived by the recent spell of mild weather, were not dressed warmly enough". A further articleon page five pointed out that the king insisted on standing for the ceremony despite his leg trouble.
Pathe News posts this video footage from the same occasion, showing “the boy born to be king: Charles Philip Arthur George … Long live the prince.”
Updated
Lauren Cochrane writes:
No offence to Zara Tindall and her penchant for hats, but the seven godparents of Prince George provide slim pickings for fashion. Emilia Jardine-Paterson, a schoolfriend of Kate's from Marlborough College, stands out though. The interior designer is fond of a jazzy print. An orange and green tea dress, worn for a wedding last summer (also attended by the Duke and Duchess), shows she knows her way around event dressing. Not the usual flowered frock but not upstage-y either, her frock today is now anticipated with interest.
Updated
Laura Elston of the Press Association suggests we might be in for some drama this afternoon:
Royal christenings have not always been plain sailing. At Queen Victoria's in 1819, there was a dispute over what she should be called.Her mother the Duchess of Kent had wanted to call her Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Alexandrina Victoria, but was overruled by a cantankerous Prince Regent, the future George IV, who dictated during the ceremony that she be called Alexandrina Victoria instead in tribute to the Russian Tsar Alexander I. The Duchess was left distraught and broke down sobbing during the proceedings.
Joanna Moorhead argues that baptism "provides one of those all-important moments in family life when we pause, take stock, and think about both where we've come from and where we're going, and how important it is to support one another along the way".
Baptism, like so much else in the Christian church, is about a lot more than God and faith. If they're there in the mix for you, then fine; but if they're not, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater (have a humanist naming ceremony, or just devise your own ceremony).
Lauren Cochrane writes:
While we're waiting for the dignitaries and their frocks to arrive, the Royal Guards' outfit has it all for fashion. Red and black is totally on trend for autumn, and the fur hat provides both a strong look and a frisson of controversy. Add the marching routine and it's catwalk worthy, really.
You can see the scene outside St James's Palace live here.
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday released this video messageabout the christening. Justin Welby said:
As a nation we're celebrating the birth of someone who in due course will be the head of state. That's extraordinary. It gives you this sense of forward looking, of the forwardness of history as well as the backwardness of history. And what a gift to have this new life, and to look forward.
Elsewhere on the site, readers are discussing what it means to be a godparent. Here are some of their responses.
I am an ateheist and only once was I asked to be a godparent. I politely declined because of the obviously religious connotations of the role. Surely one can be a friend, confidant, advisor....to another human being without having to attach a label to such a role. The relationship with children of friends and relatives will develop (or not) over time. No big deal.
Beat them to it! So excited to have a baby in 1993 that my son Jack ended up with our six best friends and then we added our curate, who performed the service, for good measure!! And we're in Stockton on Tees, not St.James Palace ...... Poor Charlotte, the second, and equally excitedly welcomed in 1995, had to put up with three trusted relatives and great as they've been, has subsequently always felt somewhat short changed! (and she complains that there's note as many photos of her either....)
This comment has been chosen by Guardian staff because it contributes to the debate
Shamefully I just send Birthday & Xmas cards to my Godchildren. Not having had Godparents myself I have not known my exact duties.
Before Prince George was born, my colleague Josh Halliday wandered around London asking people if they recognised royal babies of the past and what they felt the new nipper should be called.
Here's a joke about the christening.
I also saw someone tweet "Prince George is being christened, bless him," which I think was a joke, but unfortunately I seem to have mislaid that tweet.
A number of cars just raced out of Kensington Palace on their way to St James's Palace. Sky News tells me William and Kate were in one of them.
Here's a route those cars might be taking.
Caroline Davies writes from the scene:
Caryll Foster, 53, from Kingston on Thames, and Maria Scott, 42, from Newcastle upon Tyne, camped overnight under blue tarpaulin in the sloshing rain outside St James's Palace. They hoped to be rewarded with a glimpse of the royals driving through the palace gates."William, Kate and Harry. That's who we want. There's no hope of George because he'll be in a car seat," said Maria, a mother of two.She and Caryll mark the anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, by visiting Kensington Palace each year and are regular door steppers at other royal events.Is it worth it for a glimpse of a car? "Oh yes. The royals know we are here," said Caryll.Before being interviewed by the Guardian the two women estimated they had conducted at least 20 interviews this morning as fact starved journalists waited outside the palace gate. "The first one was at 4.30am. That was ITN and GMTV. Aled Jones. I like Aled Jones," said Maria.By 2pm around 200 royalists and tourists had gathered outside St James's. But with the public and press excluded from the private service they have little hope of seeing much with three entrances to the palace complex it was not even certain if the small crowd would see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge drive in.There are correspondents from television stations including from France, the Netherlands and Norway joining British broadcasters outside St James's. There is not a lot for them to commentate on at present.All the Union Flag bedecked royal fans have been interviewed. So basically we are all just stood here waiting for some cars. We might not even see them if we are at the wrong entrance. And a few moments ago there was an unconfirmed report that Prince Harry is already inside. That will disappoint Caryll and Maria. They've got their fingers crossed for a walkabout later. I'd say they would be lucky if that happens.
Updated
Lauren Cochrane writes:
What a baby wears for a christening is about more than just clothes - as your contributions to GuardianWitness testify. Like Prince George's gown, the clothes here tend to be a symbol of family, like a wearable heirloom, really. The knitted outfit of baby Eris, who is now the fourth person to wear it, is a case in point. It's touching to think of it now wrapped up carefully awaiting the next member of the family. Refreshingly, this handing-down doesn't have to involve any religion - marlowe10's story of a knitted cap knitted by a great-grandmother in 1945 and worn by 36 babies is sweet. Direct family connections aren't essential, either. Criddy1979 is justifiably proud of the very professional knitted dress and cap she designed for her goddaughter. Something to treasure for the future, then.
Eris's Christening
My daughter Eris was christened at our local protestant church in April this year. She was wearing an outfit that my grandmother made for me when I was christened at Easter 1977. After me, my brother wore it in 1980 and then my son in 2010. It's now washed and wrapped up in my wardrobe, ready to be used again - either by another child of mine or my grandchildren.
The outfit comprises a dress and a hat, is crocheted, and comes with a blue and a pink ribbon...
Three Generation Sweater & Cap
We're not a religious family, so we don't do christenings. That said, the sweater & cap on my baby nephew were knitted by his great-grandmother in 1945 & 1st worn by the baby's grandfather (pictured left). Since then, every baby in the family has had his/her day in 'the sweater' (I was number 9, my sister, pictured right, was number 13). Three generations & thirty-six babies later, it is in remarkably good shape!
Isabella's Hand Knit Christening
I knitted this! It's not what my kid wore - it's my my god daughter's, but I'm very proud of it. I designed most of the dress, the booties and the hat. The blanket is the same one as some Norwegian princess and the pattern is over 100 years old. The roses are just scattered over for the effect - they're not part of the dress.
Here is Justin Welby arriving for the christening.
Here are some of those royal guards Lauren mentioned earlier.
Here are the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London outside St James's Palace.
The guests and godparents are arriving now.
The Middletons arrive, James having grown a fetching beard.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrive.
Lauren Cochrane writes:
The royal party has now made their way into the chapel and left us thinking a lot about hats.The Duchess of Cambridge - more on her look in a second - wore a round, jaunty little number in a Kate-approved neutral shade of straw, with a puff of tulle on the righthand side of her head.Camilla, meanwhile, went for a spiky number that looked a little like a napkin folded into a swan.It was Pippa Middleton - typical - who stole the show at yet another royal occasion. Her tiny bowler, worn almost on the forehead, is a bit of statement in a series of pretty safe outfits.Small fry compared to Beatrice's octopus number, sure, but still a curiosity.
Caroline Davies has been talking to some disappointed royal fans outside the main entrance to St James's Palace.
First they learned William, Kate and Harry were already inside.
"Never mind. There is still the Queen to come," said Caryll Foster. "And maybe we will see then all leaving later."
But there was to be no view of the Queen either.
Caryll had been waiting from 2pm yesterday for this.
Caroline has sent the order of service, in case you were wondering what was going on in there. Here you go:
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen two hymns, two lessons and two anthems for the christening of their son, Prince George.The Hymns are Breathe on Me, Breath of God and Be Thou My Vision.The lessons are from St. Luke ch. 18, verses 15-17, read by Miss Pippa Middleton and St. John ch. 15, verses 1-5, read by Prince Harry.The anthems are Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand (Richard Popplewell) and The Lord Bless You and Keep You (John Rutter).Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand was written for Prince William’s baptism on 4th August 1982. The anthems will be performed by The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal.The Processional Organ Music will be J. S. Bach’s Fantasia in G (BWV 572).The Recessional Organ Music will be C. M. Widor’s Toccatafrom Symphony No 5.The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, will baptise Prince George. He will be supported by The Dean of The Chapel Royal (The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Richard Chartres) and The Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal (The Reverend Prebendary William Scott).
Prince George's outfit is causing quite a stir. He's a boy and he's wearing a dress. So what? Deal with it.
Here's Lauren Cochrane on Kate's outfit:
What to wear to your son's christening? Something to set his look off just so. George wore ivory, and so did Kate. She almost matched him for frills too, though without his baby-appropriate chubbiness.Her outfit - a skirt suit, not a dress - is by Alexander McQueen, the label that made her wedding dress and, like the dress, it was custom-made for the occasion.That Kate got her outfit made specifically shows not only that this is a special occasion but that she is careful with her image, as one of the world's most watched mums. Instead of echoing Diana's look - a pink floral dress with matching hat - as she did with blue polka dots post-birth, this gives a clue to what we'll see in the future.While it's actually a coat dress, the fact it looks like a skirt suit is interesting. A bit more nipped in and neat than the soft, ultra-femininity of a frock, it's pretty and girly but also - as tailoring generally implies - more public facing, less stay at home.As well as a loyalty to McQueen for special occasions, Kate has made use of a few tropes we have seen in her wardrobe before: smart tailoring, sensible, chaste femininity and a design detail (ruffles in this case) that shows just enough fashion flair.There's the nude pumps now so familiar, and the makeup look - glossy hair, lipgloss and a healthy amount of bronzer - just tips the balance from girl-next-door to the groomed glamour which is appropriate for someone in the public eye.What this outfit says? Kate is a girl who sticks with what she knows, and someone who wants to wear what works for where she is. If the frill from neck to waist, and the designer label, is a bit of a statement, and a long way away from her usual carefully-chosen high street frocks, it's bargained down with the safe - baby-friendly, even - ivory shade. She knows George is the star of the show here - and he wears the dress to prove it.
Updated
Summary
The christening is over. Here's a summary of what happened.
• Prince George was christened today at a ceremony at St James's Palace.
• At the private service, the Archbishop of Canterbury baptised the future king using water from the River Jordan.
• George wore a reproduction of a christening gown worn by royal babies since 1841. The original was created for Queen Victoria's daughter, also called Victoria.
• In a break with tradition, only one of the baby's godparents was from the royal family, Zara Tindall. The other six were friends of William and Kate's.
That's it from us. See you next time ...
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