A Royal Christening in Britain Amid a Refrain of Coos

NEW YORK TIMES

By KATRIN BENNHOLD

Published: October 23, 2013

LONDON — Some spent the night in the English rain, huddling under tarpaulins and keeping warm with flasks of tea outside St. James’s Palace. It was all to secure a good view of Prince George of Cambridge on his christening day Wednesday. The prince had not been seen in public since he was born three months ago.

Apparently it was worth it. “Aww,” the crowd cooed loudly when the prince, third in line to the throne, arrived with his parents, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, the former Kate Middleton. The sun was out and the prince was dressed in a lace and satin replica of the christening gown made for the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria in 1841. “He looks like a girl,” one delighted onlooker commented.

A royal christening has perhaps a special significance in a country that has its own church. Ever since Henry VIII broke with the Roman Catholic Church and established a more accommodating version in 1534 so he could divorce and re-wed (several times), Britain’s royals have been the guardians of the Church of England.

Prince George, in other words, will not just be king one day, he will be defender of the faith and supreme governor of the Church of England.

The archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Justin Welby, baptized the prince, whose full name is George Alexander Louis, with water from the River Jordan in a 45-minute ceremony. Archbishop Welby said he hoped that the event would inspire more Britons to come back to church. In a video released on YouTube ahead of the service, he said Prince George would be joining two billion people around the world in the “family” of the church, adding that “the great good news is that God doesn’t care who we are.”

If tradition was on ample display in some ways, in others it was conspicuously absent.

READ MORE HERE:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/24/world/europe/royal-christening-draws-patient-crowds-in-london.html?_r=0


Prince George to wear replica of 172-year-old christening gown
http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2013073013840/prince-george-replica-christening-gown/

Prince William, Prince Charles, and the Queen all wore the same Honiton lace and white satin gown to mark their entrance into the Church of England. The christening of Prince Edward Albert of York (later King Edward VIII), pictured left in the arms of Queen Victoria, with the Duke of York (later King George V) and the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), demonstrates the incredible history behind the robe. On the right, Queen Elizabeth II is seen with her parents on her christening day in May 1926. Photo: © Getty Images

Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge: The Royal Baby Named!

by Alexis L. Loinaz

E.Entertainment

Royal Highness was born at 4:24 p.m. (British Summer Time) in the Lindo Wing of St. Mary's Hospital in London, weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces, bestowing the monarchy with its third royal in line to the throne and bringing to a full circle the public's potent fairy-tale fascination that began with the couple's drawn-out courtship and culminated in their storybook wedding in 2011.

As befitting the pomp and pageantry of aristocratic tradition, the baby's arrival—and the eventual announcement of its gender—was heralded via a royal declaration signed by Kate's doctor, taken to Buckingham Palace via police escort, and placed on an easel outside the palace, similar to the protocol that was observed when William was born 31 years ago.

William was by his wife's side when they went to the hospital, he was present during the child's birth and then he spent the night at St. Mary's with Kate and their newborn son. 

"We could not be happier," the new dad said following the child's arrival.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.eonline.com/news/432538/prince-george-alexander-louis-of-chttp://www.eonline.com/news/432538/prince-george-alexander-louis-of-cambridge-the-royal-baby-namedambridge-the-royal-baby-named