George Alexander Louis, to be known as His
Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge ... apparently Alexander is particular favourite
of Catherine’s ... or Kate as we know her ...
... born
on July 22nd 2013 at 4.24 pm ... weighing 8lb 6 oz ...
...
there has only been one Prince of Cambridge before, a military man with a racy
love life, born in 1819 and commemorated with an equestrian statue in
Whitehall.
The Archbishop of
Canterbury conducted the service that had historic overtones being
in the presence of our 87 year-old monarch and three future kings, the Princes
Charles, William and, of course, little George.
 |
| The Archbishop to the left, the Bishop of London to the right |
The Bishop of
London was also in attendance and it was he who commented that
George was holding his hands in a very
commanding manner.
Baptism: As
the trumpets blared, baby George arrived at the chapel in his father’s arms
with his mother by their side ...
The
term Chapel
Royal refers to a body of priests and singers, part of the Royal
Household, to serve the spiritual needs of the Sovereign, as and when required.
 |
The two
currently used as Chapel Royals are located at St James’s
Palace, London – the Chapel Royal and the Queen’s Chapel.
The Chapel Royal
is steeped in history ... it was here, in 1588 that Elizabeth I said prayers
before the Spanish Armada was attacked ...
... the
heart of Mary I of England is buried beneath the choir stalls ... she was ill
and died at St James’s Palace in November 1558 and is now known by the
soubriquet “Bloody Mary” ...
 |
| The Chapel Royal showing its intimacy, with the Holbein ceiling ... |
... and
here that Charles I received Holy Communion before his execution in 1649.
For the
Duke and Duchess too the Chapel holds poignant memories. Catherine was confirmed here, into the
Anglican faith, before the royal wedding ...
... and
this was where William and Harry said farewell to their mother, Diana, Princess
of Wales, after her death in 1997.
The Chapel Royal
choir,
comprising six men and ten boys, bedecked in scarlet and gold-fringed robes ...
have been practising for the Christening Service this week ...
 |
| The silver-gilt Lily Font |
George
was christened
with water from the River Jordan in a silver baptismal font, known as the
Lily Font, made in 1840 for the christening of Queen Victoria’s first child,
as it has been used for every royal christening since.
Designers ... Kate
wore a cream-coloured Alexander McQueen dress and hat by milliner Jane Taylor;
.... the press kept us informed about all the other guests’ outfits!
 |
| The Order of the Garter - the senior order of the United Kingdom: showing the Garter "Star" and below St George the Martyr on horseback slaying the dragon |
England ... George, the
dragon slayer, is of course, the patron saint of England, despite having been
born far from here ....
Archbishop’s
speech will remind George that his
role as a future monarch will include acting as a figurehead for Christianity
with the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
Future Kings ... It had been 120 years since a
reigning monarch had met a future king three generations ahead ... that last
happened in 1894 when Queen Victoria was introduced to the baby who would
become Edward VIII.
 |
| We three males will all kings be ... |
Three
kings are now on hold ... but it looks like the future King George will be the
first king of the 22nd century ... some thought – many of us though won’t see him reign ...
George’s
name
was probably chosen as a tribute to George V, founder of the House of Windsor, who was
the Queen’s adored ‘Grand-Père England’ ... George VI
was the beloved father in whose image she has shaped so much of her reign (her
inscrutability on most things is one of her strengths) ...
... her
father who despite those early trials, after his brother’s abdication, went on
to become a much admired leader during World War II.
Godparents are a
mixture of school, university and family friends, mentor figures, and a royal
cousin, Zara, who will be producing a playmate for George in January ... and
who has helped Kate overcome her fear of horses.
The fact
the godparents are
not royal is another indication that this prince is going to be very grounded
in normal life.
 |
| Anmer village sign |
Homes: The new family are likely to
spend time in Kensington Palace, at the Middleton’s family home in Bucklebury,
Berkshire and Anmer Hall, a 10-bedroom Georgian mansion on the Sandringham
estate, Norfolk, where the Queen and her family spends Christmas ...
... but
as we now know Prince George’s parents have minds of their own and are
determined to do things their way, if possible, giving him and his future
siblings as much privacy as possible ...
Intimate
Christening Service – few invited ... simple ... Prince William showed his
single-mindedness and determination when “their guest list” for the wedding did
not include any friends they knew ...
... he
apparently startled the Royal Family ... by going straight to the Queen to
discuss his concerns. This continues to
this day ... as we’ve seen at times ... he does things on his own terms ...
The intimate ceremony
without a lot of fuss and bother suited the main royals ... the Queen, the Duke
of Edinburgh and Prince Charles could accomplish all their duties, attend the
Christening, have a cup of tea and get on with more duties.
This intimate christening
has been the most private royal christening in living memory ...
The Imperial State Crown is one
of the Crown Jewels of the UK and symbolises the sovereignty of the monarchy.
 |
| The Imperial State Crown |
Jubilee Trust: nothing stops the Queen
performing her duties ... she did her papers in the morning, received some
dignitaries, allocated an hour for the Christening, photos and a quick cup of tea
... and then hosted a Diamond Jubilee Trust reception commencing at
6.00 pm.
Does
she ever stop working? ... she sets a fine example of hard work and dedication
to her peoples.
 |
| The Chapel Royal is on the right |
St James’s Palace is the most senior royal palace
... and it is for this reason that it gives its name to the Royal Court (the “Court
of St James”) – it is the ceremonial gathering place of the “Accession Council”
which proclaims a new sovereign.
Foreign
Ambassadors are still accredited to the Court of St James’s, even though they
are received by the monarch at Buckingham Palace.
Future Kings: Clarence House is
next door to St James’s Palace, and is the residence of the Prince of Wales. While William and Kate, with George, will reside at
Kensington Palace on the west side of Hyde Park.
 |
| With the Archbishop of Canterbury |
Little lad ... I’ve got no further with my “Ls”!!!
The Royal Mint has created the first ever
royal christening coin in the UK to mark Prince George’s baptism. The limited edition gold “kilo coin” is being
sold for £50,000 – but a more affordable “Brilliant Uncirculated” £5 coin costs
£13.
 |
| The Gold and Silver Uncirculated coins |
The £5 coin
has been made in both silver – because the crossing of a baby’s palm with
silver is said to bring good health and prosperity to newborns – and gold to
commemorate the royal celebration. There
are nine items in the range ...
Nicknames: William
calls Catherine “Poppet” ... apparently
Prince Charles and Camilla have long found it amusing to refer to each other in
private as Fred and Gladys ... while
Prince Philip apparently calls the Queen Cabbage
or Sausage, while she supposedly calls him The Boss ... who knows?!
 |
| From the Edwardian Promenade blog ... details of this and other historical research guides |
Names ... Members
of the Royal Family who are entitled to the style and dignity of HRH Prince or
Princess do not need a surname, but if at any time one is needed, such as upon
marriage, then that surname is “Mountbatten-Windsor”.
So some
royal names have come to define much more than a mere reign.
Georgian architecture, Victorian values, Edwardian grandeur ...
...
Charles the Conservator ...
...
William the determined ...
...
George the gorgeous!
Order of Service
included the hymns:
·
Breathe on Me, Breath of God
·
Be Thou My Vision ... this one was sung at the
memorial service to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Diana
The Lessons
were:
·
St Luke ch. 18, verses 15-17: read by Pippa
Middleton, Kate’s sister
·
St John ch. 15, verses 1- 5: read by Prince
Harry
The
anthems were performed by The Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal:
·
Blessed Jesu!
Here We Stand (written by Richard Popplewell – for Prince William’s baptism
on 4 August 1982)
·
The Lord Bless You and Keep You (by John Rutter)
... phrases William has been heard to say... “he’s got her looks thankfully” ...
Kate protesting .. “No, no I don’t know about that” ... as for George’s downy
hair, now turning darker ... “he’s got way more than me, thankfully” ... “he’s
got a good pair of lungs on him, that’s for sure” ... was a “big boy, he’s
quite heavy” .... “I’ll remind him of his tardiness when he’s a bit older ...”
The Queen, dressed in turquoise, wore a
diamond, ruby and sapphire floral brooch to the Christening given to her by her
parents, George VI and the Queen Mother, which marked the birth of Prince
Charles in 1948.
Christening Robe ... George
wore a replica of the fragile 172 year old robe, made of Honiton lace lined
with satin, which has been used by royal babies since the christening of Queen Victoria’s
eldest daughter in 1841 ... sixty-two
christenings in all ...
 |
| The beautiful buttermilk Christening Robe |
The
replica was commissioned by the Queen in 2008 and once made, was hand-washed in
spring water and carefully stored in a cool, dark place to keep it pristine. I see the Queen is still practising her Girl Guide
motto ... ‘Be Prepared’...!
That early robe
– an original Spitalfields silk-satin gown, with cap sleeves, a lace overlay
and a bow at the neck was created by Janet Sutherland, a coal miner’s daughter,
who was a Scottish dressmaker from Falkirk, in 1841.
George’s wardrobe ... he
can count himself lucky because his royal counterparts born three centuries ago
would have been fitted with baby corsets ....??
George
IV born in August 1762 wore a bright red silk corset ... stiffened with a strip
of whalebone down the back ...
George
V wore lace-up baby boots – he was born in 1865.
 |
| Stunning cake ... bet it tasted good too! |
Scrumptious tea ... with
champagne ... one of the sections, probably the smallest, of his parent’s
eight-tiered wedding cake ... this was hosted at Clarence House, where the
official photographs were taken, by Charles and his wife, Camilla ...
A subtle
transition going on as
Charles takes on more duties, but the Queen, now 87, will never abdicate ...
per various reports being spawned now ...
So far
this new section of the royal family seem to be developing an Utopian existence ...
long may it last for them, and for us ...
Visit
planned to Australia and New Zealand in the new year with George most
definitely going along ...
 |
| Salisbury - the Poultry Cross painted by Louise Rayner, c 1870 |
Victoria ... what
would she say – and how much has changed ... electric light, heating, aeroplane
travel, cars, tarmac roads, ...
When Prince William
was born in 1982 when there was no internet, no mobile-phone network, and so
many other changes around the world that have occurred ... what will happen in
the next 30, 50, 100 years ... into the 22nd century of George ...
 |
| Loving Cup from the Royal Shop ... this is not tawdry tat! |
X is for tat or tacky ...
you can bet there will be tons of plastic rubbish sold, a few good items ...
but X is for tawdry tat!
Yelling from
those royal lungs was briefly on hold ... his father noted that this was the
first time George had been quiet all day ..
Let
the Zest of life begin that he will be able to enjoy for a
while, before the reigns of duty take over ...
Prince
George ... has started off life very serenely ... a peaceful, quiet,
exceptionally well behaved little lad ... though I suspect in due time he will
show the fun side of his character ...
... which
is bound to be there as the grandson of Diana, and nephew of Harry ... let
alone his parents, who enjoyed themselves at St Andrews University, where they
met. His great grandmother is known to
enjoy a laugh ...
Regal calm of the future King ... as
his first duty was to his 22 guests at his baptism ... after gently waving at his great grandmother,
he clasped his hands over his tummy, eyes wide open absorbing this new world
around him and patiently saw his 94th day pass serenely on ...
Whereas one (unlikely) future subject was
recording the events for her blog post in the ABC mode ... when I will be past
my sell-by date ... sad, but true!!
Hilary
Melton-Butcher
Positive
Letters Inspirational Stories
78 comments:
cute little guy .We only wish him the best and would be good if his grand daddy stepped out of the picture. Camilla spoils all the pictures. She doesn't belong there.
She's not real family.
Good on Prince William for setting his own terms for the event.
I'm not sure any of us will live to see Charles become king.
Camilla is Charles' wife and stepmother to William and Harry. Of course she is part of the family.
Great blog Hilary and interesting facts. Didn't think of the 3 kings all together. Reminds me of the pic at the burial of King George VI when there were 3 queens all together.
I'm in awe of how much information you have in this post. I personally believe they kept the ceremony private to mess with the BBC - they had reporters on the scene reporting on very little for a very long time :-)
Lovely post, so much information, Hilary.
@ A Lady's Life .. isn't he delicious looking ..
@ Alex - I agree .. William does seem to have a mind of his own and a strong family unit within the Royals .. I think we'll see Charles become King .. possibly even William .. but George - no!
@ Jo - thanks I agree .. Camilla by being there has made everyone happier .. it's good to see ..
Yes the one of the three Queen is similar isn't it .. dynasty there for us all to see ..
@ Annalisa - thanks .. I just picked up odds and ends ...
Kate and William have managed to keep a low profile all along the line .. soooo good for them - all the media kept at bay .. Goerge started it .. by being late!!!
@ Suzanne .. glad you enjoyed it ..
Cheers and thanks for commenting ... Hilary
I love the history. Be proud! Cheers.
I don't know where you got all that - but I loved every word of it. I love hearing about the royals and all the things they do and rules they have to follow. Very interesting as we don't have that here. There sure are a lot of rules and things that can be done and can't be done. Love it. sandie
Great information. I missed every scrap of info on it, and there must have been some shown here. I'd be afraid to carry a baby that was wearing a dress like that. A gorgeous dress and the Royal family so beautiful and proper in their celebration clothes. Good coverage, Hilary. Thanks
Awww I only wish Diana could have been part of this most intimate yet quite grand event! Take care
x
Once again I come away from your posts much wiser and filled with more knowledge than before I read it :)
Thanks for sharing this event with us on your blog, Hilary. I like William's way of thinking and George is such a beautiful boy.
Beautiful synopsis, Hilary! We're quite taken with Kate over on this side of the pond (or even further if you count where we actually are in the Pacific). Wonderful post, thank you.
A lovely summary of a historic occasion. Thank you.
What a beautiful baby. I remember when The Queen showed some footage of Harry's christening during her Christmas Day Address. It was adorable. William was a little guy, saying NO NO to everything his mum asked him to do. Or at least that's the way I recall it.
Love,
Janie
What beautiful pictures, Hilary. It is hard to imagine Charles ever being king. The Queen is amazing. Love Catherine's and George's buttermilk gowns. Very photogenic. Thanks for this full report. We didn't get a huge amount on telly here.
Denise
This was wonderful! I love reading about the royals, but rarely do. I didn't even know they were planning a trip to New Zealand this year. I find the traditions so interesting. That christening gown sure has a lot of history behind it.
@ JJ.. thanks - I too love British history ..
@ Sandie - I don't think I could write about all the protocol! But I enjoy gathering snippets, especially with the recent historical occasions we've been having. Beautiful Christening though ..
@ Manzanita - thanks .. I missed some of ours too, but I've enjoyed posting about it and catching up ..
@ Old Kitty - things would be different if Diana were still around .. but sad she is lost to her sons ... it was intimate, yet grand wasn't it ..
@ Keith - I don't half the stuff I write, so I learn too .. it's good for me!
@ DG - William does seem to be very independent minded, yet aware of his destiny .. it's great to see how things pan out for them .. pretty good so far. George does look so beautiful doesn't he ..
@ Betsy - what a lovely surprise to see you .. and yes you are very far west from us. Glad you enjoyed the bits of bumph!
@ Linda - lovely to see you here .. thank you so much, just glad you enjoyed it ..
@ Janie - I was in South Africa, so I didn't catch up on the Royals except the very basics "a boy is born"!! Or William saying 'NO, NO ...' to everything his mother suggested ... what a great addition ... thanks so much!
@ Denise - it was a very private affair, so reporting even for us was very limited - good for them, keeping it low-key ... yet as Old Kitty said grand too ..
I can see Charles being King, then William .. but I suspect I peter out sometime after that!!!
Loved their buttermilk outfits - stunning aren't they ..
@ Rhonda - I believe they're coming to NZ and I expect you'll see some coverage then! If you're in the country!
I just love the history and how it's all weaved into the fabric of the background to our everyday lives .. It was fun to find out about the Christening Gown ..
Thanks everyone - so pleased you're enjoying the post .. cheers Hilary
Thank you Hilary, I have been waiting for your very informative and interesting post on the christening, I've loved every word of it. Little George is such a lovely baby.
I'll be on the lookout for souvenirs for my collection and I never mind a few tatty ones, they can be fun.
Sylvia
I'm not a Royalist and never will be. I really hope that by the time he's old enough to be king we'll have done away with such an outdated institution. I won't live to see it, of course!
Such a pretty baby. I like that they kept the christening so private and quiet. The Queen has amazing stamina! When I think of all the things she can accomplish in one day's time!
So that's where the term Bloody Mary cam from. A very interesting and thorough post.
God Bless His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.
Here's to bonny Prince George. May he have a long happy and fulfilling life.
Prince William must take after his mum.;)
I wonder if the horns scared Baby George? Maybe they weren't too loud.
George is so adorable! And what cheeks! Thank you for this grand post. It will be quite the different life for the new little prince than it was for his father.
Wonderful post, Hilary. I think that Prince George is a little cutie.
Hi Hilary,
Another comprehensive posting. I respect that such occasions are of great fascination. History and tradition upheld.
The A to Z of monarchy. I will admit that in these austere times, I do find this a bit uncomfortable. Be well, my friend and I hope the storm wasn't too wild where you live. We didn't even get the storm.
Cheers and kind wishes,
Gary
My goodness, what a post! Filled with all things Royal. Which I love. :))
Loved seeing the photos from the christening. Quite something to have three generations of heirs photographed with the queen.
And do take care with that storm!
I am also fascinated with the photo of the three future Kings and their Queen! Lots of interesting facts about the Royal Family. Prince William seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and Prince George is adorable
Julie
I'm always in awe of the panoply of things involved in a royal event: the Christening Robe, the jewels, the hats that only a queen can carry off. Such a sweet baby and such a huge responsibility already in his future.
Here's to tradition and to Elizabeth. She's dedication personified. She has set a high bar for anyone who follows her.
@ Sylvia - I feel honoured and am just glad it passed muster for you .. I'm sure some the cheaper souvenirs will be fine .. just 'tat' does sell so easily as people don't seem to be able to evaluate what is good and what is not ... and are not prepared to wait ...
@ Anne - I understand your non-royalist outlook ... I sit on the opposite side of the fence .. and I would hate to see our pomp and pageantry ... but that's what friends are for ... despite our British approach!!
@ Elizabeth - isn't he lovely looking. William and Kate are managing their lives very well .. and the Queen is quite extraordinary .. I so admire her ..
@ Karen - many thanks I just enjoy putting it all together ..
@ Stephen - so pleased you enjoyed the post .. George is pretty good looking isn't he!
@ Bish - so pleased you're feeling better now. I agree let's hope he has a happy and fulfilling life ..
@ Holly - it looks like the young Prince comes from good genes .. nothing appeared to ruffle him - he was kingly personified even at 3 months old!!
@ Christine - chubby cheeks .. always good on babies ... and life will change in the next x number of years before he becomes king - I wonder how ... I hope for the good ..
@ Susanne - thanks so much .. he certainly looks like one cuddly little soul doesn't he ..
@ Gary - at least they're not flaunting it .. it's part of tradition of the way the royalty functions ...
So I'm happy for them to be participating in our lives ... I'm so against others who flaunt for the sake of it ..
We had a tree down here .. but all safe and I hope I can get around the rail network tomorrow! Lucky you not getting the storm ... it was very windy and squally here ..
@ Luanna - so pleased you enjoyed the info and enjoyed the pictures - the Queen is amazing and it's inspiring to have three heirs in waiting ..
Thankfully the storm has passed by - one tree down, missed my car and not so serious ... I just hope I can travel tomorrow on the train ..
@ Julie - you've summed it up so well .. and long may they live happily .. it's an interesting time for the royals that we're in ..
@ Lee - it's great to see designers on show and to hear the history of those royal items ... I loved the catching up ...
Here is to tradition - couldn't agree more .. and she certainly has set the bar high ..
Cheers to you all - I'm safe from the storm .. sadly a few lives lost ... but it's not the Great Storm .. Hilary
For a little person, he has huge shoes to fill and a mountain of history to stand on.
I agree with Old Kitty.
What a pity Diana is not there.
I had no idea the queen was 87. She's so bright and capable I though she was much younger. She's been the real strength of the royal family for all these years. Thanks for all the info about little George.
Thanks for your good wishes on Father Dragon's blog about my cover reveal. I appreciate them! :-)
Loved reading this, Hilary. My mother insisted on crossing a silver coin across all my children's palms when they were born. She had a genuine silver dollar she used for her 15 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. :)
Baby George is a sweetie and seems quite content. What huge booties he has to fill in his future!
As soon as I read about the christening in the news I thought how I couldn't wait to read your take on it, Hilary. As usual your posts are always so interesting and add so much to these events. Love the history and the traditions.
And I can't believe that cake! It definitely looks too pretty to be eaten.
Thanks for all the Royal info Hilary. See the Christening photos is just like looking in at a bygone age. 22nd century? Goodness, now that is looking ahead! :-)
Thanks for all the Royal info Hilary. See the Christening photos is just like looking in at a bygone age. 22nd century? Goodness, now that is looking ahead! :-)
Thanks for all the Royal info Hilary. See the Christening photos is just like looking in at a bygone age. 22nd century? Goodness, now that is looking ahead! :-)
Having lived away from kings and queens for 50 years, I find it a bit difficult to relate to all this pomp. But little George seemed to handle it all with aplomb and that's all that matters. An excellent reportage of the event, the people, and the history.
He's a dandy boy, isn't he? Just fine looking.
Thank you for the look at the day - I missed it all on TV somehow.
@ Mary - he does doesn't he .. but William seems to be gently stepping up to the plate ..
@ Julia - sadly it's the way life takes us, but Diana is being remembered ... as she will be as their mother ...
@ Lexa - good to see you - the Queen has been an incredible force of strength for the Royal Family .. her mother reached 101 .. Glad you enjoyed the info about our future King ...
@ Talon - how lovely to read about your mother and her silver coin .. we had silver knapkin rings etc - not sure about the coins! Lucky lady 15 grandchildren and now 7 greats .. large family ...
I think William and Kate got lucky with George ... or his destiny descended on him and he thought .. well for my first engagement I'd better behave! Apparently he was as quiet as a church mouse ...?!
@ Julie - thanks so much .. I eventually garnered myself together to post ... As normal, I learnt so much posting this up ..
Interestingly I'm staying with someone who taught Fiona Cairns, the cake-maker, early in her cake making career - I hadn't realised that bit of info about my friend.
@ Deborah - I hardly saw any coverage, but I wasn't glued to the box and was out that evening .. but sort of caught some of it.
I just thought it was worth putting in about the fact he will likely reign into the next century - especially as we've all seen this 21st century arrive ... seems surreal to me!!
@ Inger - good to see you ..I still love the pomp and ceremony and the history it reminds us of ... we forget so easily - that everything now has some tie back .. but with our customs and traditions it brings it to the fore again ... and is what in many ways defines us ...
@ Lynn - isn't he a chubby chappy ... glad you enjoyed this update ..
Cheers everyone - I'm away for a few days learning about another King, back at the weekend...Hilary
Hilary, it was great to read about the whole service, I really like the way you incorporated the a-z, well researched and full of interesting history, hope your having a blessed day!
Can you believe I got to 'little lad' before I realised this was an a to z?
I can't even claim I was distracted by the cake as I hadn't got to that.
You are so CREATIVE!!! I didn't get it at first. I kept wondering why the colored words. It took me to "J" to figure it out.
In the meantime, I thoroughly enjoyed the writeup about the royal christening. We don't get to hear about things like this across the pond and it so much fun to get all the details that only Hilary can provide:~)
Cheers, friend!!
gorgeous pictures and history! you blend present & past so beautifully!
historic fantasy in the flesh! thanks!
@ Amanda .. thanks I enjoy having the info here for referral and doing it as an A-Z makes it easier to include the sorts of things you'll be interested in, as will other readers around the world ...
@ Patsy - sorry I didn't spell it out did I! ... I was glad I found a close-up of one of the sections of the cake .. beautiful sugar-work .. and I could be easily distracted by a rich fruit cake ..
@ Sara - many thanks .. but it was expediency doing the post as an A-Z so I could include lots of odds and ends and the important bits ...
I now think .. well I'd better do something different if I can dream it up! Glad you enjoyed it ..
@ Tara - good to see you .. appreciate that you enjoyed the present and past history rolled into one ..
He's a good looking piece of flesh and cuddly baby ... future fantasy!
Cheers everyone .. Happy Halloween - Hilary
Wonderful post, Hilary.
They are very famous here in the U.S. -- William and Kate (and now the young prince). The papers can't get enough of them.
He's such an adorable baby. By the looks of it, he will be loved and spoiled and absolutely adored. Thank you for the history behind the name. Always great to read such tidbits.
Such a rich and wonderful history! Thank you for sharing the details. I knew it was a grand and important affair, but had seen little press on it here in the states. What an adorable little man George is! I love the photo of Kate, William and George - so sweet.
Have a lovely weekend,
Karen :)
@ Silvia - many thanks .. I know royalty is much loved in America - thank goodness for that!!
He seems to have very down to earth parents ... and I hope and suspect he'll be 'normal' as can be in the circumstances ... I was interested in his name or the naming of him .. I wasn't so keen initially - but when I worked it out .. George was the perfect choice.
@ Karen - the Christening was very low key for a royal occasion .. but it was fun to write up about it ... and yes they're very photogenic ... thank goodness!
You too - have lovely weekends .. cheers HIlary
Hilary, I can always rely on you to fill me in on interesting matters that I have missed (not being a TV watcher or newspaper reader any more). I didn't even know that they were coming to NZ! The baby is really lovely, and seems peaceful. And so much history around Christenings and the like. The font is so lavish, and the story of the christening gown very interesting. I didn't even realise the Queen is now 87 - and still working. She is amazing. Thank you, loyal subject!
Wow, he's a big lad already!
And so much history in the church and jewels.
The queen looks like her mom now, wonderful to see the 4 generations.
And YOU will never have a sell-date, always timeless and fresh!!
BB says hi. He's having a bath.
xooxoxo
Such an adorable baby and what an attractive family of 3.
@ Juliet - I would like not to watch the tv or read the one paper I do read a week .. but can't seem to drop the habit! Glad I filled in the spaces ...
We're going to have a few royal events in the years ahead and these are my preparation - a few notes!
This loyal subject couldn't think of the word 'subject' for a while .. then it came back!
The font is just beautiful ..
@ Jannie - he does look a large lad doesn't he .. but so peaceful. The history of the chapels and jewels - recent ones now too - are fascinating ... writing about history reminds me of other aspects ..
The Queen has enormous stamina and dedication to the service of the country ..
me - timeless?!! Well that's funny! But so appreciate the laugh and giggle it brought me this morning ...
Hardwick too sends hugs to BB - especially if he's clean and tidy! .. Hardwick resides behind glass for the moment .. xoxoxo to all the Funster family ..
@ Theresa - just as you see it .. all seems to be going along swimmingly for them - long may it last ..
Thanks so much to you all .. cheers Hilary
Unfortunately I missed this event, because I was on holidays in France and nobody talked about the christening. Usually I am very interested in the British monarchy, so your post is very interesting for me !
Considering what his parents look like, he was bound to be beautiful. We are especially thrilled by his birth here in Prince George, BC. Jolly nice of them to name him after our city. LOL.
Hilary, your comments are so much more detailed and interesting than those we see and hear in and on the media. Great photos as well. The Christening gown is beautiful. Here is a wish -- that Prince George's own children will be able to wear it. Perhaps earlier than that -- Prince Harry?
Wow, you sure squeezed a lot of interesting info into this post. As for the home... the one with TEN bedrooms... I couldn't help but be glad I'm not the one who has to clean that place... I'd NEVER get done! And I had no idea babies were ever put into corsets, the poor things. And finally, obviously Prince George is a real prince of a fella. I mean, what other baby could wear such a gorgeous christening gown without spitting up all over it? He looks absolutely regal.
Cheers! Happy weekend.
George is a good name in my book. My grandpa was George, my cousin is George, my father-in-law and brother-in-law are George, even my teddy was George, and I probably forgot someone. So they chose well. Of course, there's been a few Georges in his family too. All the best to him, though I'm quite sure none of us will ever see him become King!
@ Gattina - having a holiday in France was lovely from your photos - but at least you could catch up here.
@ Joylene - are you in Prince George .. now I can see where you are .. it is a lovely part of the world. So pleased you're happy with his name .. and yes, the Canadians are very fond of the Royals aren't they ... I expect he'll be visiting sometime soon ..
@ Tasha - thanks so much .. it's good to know the snippets are appreciated, as well as the mix of photos.
That Christening gown must be gorgeous to actually see and feel - and I'm sure it will be used often as more royal babies come along - siblings, cousins or 2nd cousins may well all wear 'George's gown' - it won't be wasted or put away to never see the light of day again, except in an exhibition .. it will be worn often I'm sure.
Who knows who will be next ... possibly Zara's child ... but she's renounced her royal aspects I think. We shall find out soon enough ...
@ Susan - yes I didn't want it to stretch to two posts ...I think their home in Kensington Palace will have 21 rooms - how many of those will be bedrooms ...
I suspect they won't clean .. but I can see them tidying up as best they can - they seem very down to earth.
I had a photo of the corset .. but it went awol!! before I managed to photograph it - silly me!
George's parents were amazed he wasn't gurgling all over his gown - he's learnt very early to behave! He does look regal doesn't he .. they're such good photos of a happy family ...
@ Nick - lots of Georges in your family then - we haven't got any that I know of ... not even a Teddy bear named George ... love it! I feel certain you're right that none of us will see him reign ... I hope I'll catch the others!
Cheers to you all .. Hilary
ABC mode? Nicely done! I like the new royal family quite a bit.
You are a wealth of information, like a walking encyclopedia. Enjoyed the post and loved the 2 pictures of the family.
Traveling Suitcase
I don't blame them for keeping it private. The Prince knows what a circus it can become.
That's a lot of rigmarole over a baby. I don't think any baby in the U.S. ever has gotten that much attention. But then no baby here has ever become king. Well, unless Obama decides to crown himself.
Lee
Tossing It Out
@ Milo - yes a variant of the ABC mode ... I just needed to get quite a bit in. All seems to be working out well for the royals ...
@ Sandy - many thanks .. sometimes I feel like that: a walking encyclopedia ... or a blog-reference point - the photos were media photos ... but I enjoyed seeing them.
@ Diane - well at least they can have some privacy for the time being ... and the future generations are being given time to adjust ..
@ Lee - well it is I guess, but the royals are part of our history and I'd hate to be without them ... we're reminded of where we came from and how we came through over the centuries ..
Thanks so much for commenting - Hilary
What a beautiful replica that gown is, and such a beautiful baby too.
I agree with you wholeheartedly on the Queen's work ethic. It is very admirable.
This is a fun post. I liked the fact finding, such as the history behind the brooch the queen wore to the event!
Wishing you a great week!
Hilary, this is a fantastic post! You sure provided plenty of information, and to do it so cleverly with the alphabet too was quite creative. Such a special time for the royal family, God bless them.
I’ve only just realised that you’ve done your paean for all things royal and royal baby in alphabetical order.
Do you think he will actually become king? the same kind of ruler as the Queen or with even less power? A bit more like ordinary folk. William seems to be well on the way.
I have said it before, I have no great interest in the matter, except I like the pageantry; after all it brings lots of US dollars to the country. Which isn’t a bad thing. (J is a mild royalist, he’d rather have them than some grasping president)
Thank you so much for your visit to my site. It's been fun to read this post of yours, particularly since I was in London on Prince George's big day and know of the day's varied media coverage.
Best wishes.
@ Rosey - the whole Christening almost looks like magic, doesn't it .. While I'm glad you agree with me re the Queen ...
So pleased you like the extra snippets of info .. I enjoyed finding out about the Queen's brooch ...
@ Connie - for some of the posts I've found this is the easiest way to 'dish up' a number of facts without creating too much of a story. I agree it is a special time for the Royal family .. they seem very happy ...
@ Friko - I know .. it is rather long, but not woebegone by the sound of it!
I do think we'll have another King George ... sadly well beyond our sell by date. However I understand your concern ... but the position of Queen/King is a counter balance to Parliament and to the peoples of Britain ... there's a lot to be said for their wisdom and their counsellors .. I don't think I'd be happy with 'grey'!!
I agree William does seem to be well on his way ... and the aristocracy are becoming 'diluted' if that's the way to put it - yet they offer much.
Thankfully you like the pageantry .. I love it and enjoy finding out more about the historical element ... I'm glad the Friko home isn't totally against the royals!
@ Frances - so kind of you to come on over here .. I think I noted you were in London and obviously were able to see the coverage ... but am glad you enjoyed my take on the day ...
Cheers to you all .. Hilary
That cup is exquisite! YaY for Prince George! What a cutie. And what a life he is destined to have. I am glad that William did things HIS way. That's as it should be! I learned a lot today Hil. Thanks for teaching me so much. XOXO
Hi Robyn - I thought the blue colour of the Christening items in the Royal shop was a very good choice.
Yes William does seem to be blending his world with the necessity of royal duty .. it's good to be a little more relaxed.
Delighted you enjoyed it .. cheers Hilary
I admire the British royal family and found this post fascinating. They are keeping up many good traditions like the replica christening gown, the hymns sung, etc.
Hi Terra .. good to meet you and thank you for commenting - I too love the traditions and this was a lovely Christening ... good learn some new things too.
Thank you - Hilary
Such a lovely tribute of a post, Hilary!
Hi Deniz - thanks so much .. it was fun to write up - cheers Hilary
Oh, how wonderful. I've been looking forward to this post, saving it as a treat when my work was done. I love when you go through the alphabet and teach me all that British history and tradition. So well done, Hils.
Tina @ Life is Good
Hi Tina - it was fun to write ... and seems to be a good way to bring in all the bits and bobs that interest me re each of the ceremonies .. delighted you enjoyed it .. thanks Hilary
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