A country christening fit for a princess
Nine-week-old Princess Charlotte of the UK has been christened in an intimate ceremony, receiving five godparents.
Just 21 guests attended the low-key ceremony inside the 16th century Church of St Mary Magdalene on the country estate of the babyâs great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, as crowds waited outside.
Overnight campers and early risers, many wearing Union Jack-printed clothing, had braved wet weather to get a prime spot on the paddock outside the church at Sandringham estate in Norfolk, eastern England, ahead of the afternoon service.
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Parents William and Kate walked to the service from a nearby royal residence with Charlotte and her brother George, giving the public their second glimpse of the little princess since she appeared on the steps of a London hospital after her birth on May 2.
Charlotte arrived for the ceremony in a vintage pram used by Queen Elizabeth for her own children in the past, pushed by her mother Kate, who wore an elegant cream outfit and hat.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the worldâs Anglicans, performed the baptism, using the ornate silver gilt Lily Font that is part of the crown jewels and pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the babyâs head.
The fourth-in-line to the throne wore a replica of the lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoriaâs eldest daughter in 1841.
As well as three future kings â Charles, William and George â other guests included the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, plus Kateâs parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
William and Kate announced early on Sunday that Charlotte would have five godparents, including Williamâs cousin Laura Fellowes and Kateâs cousin Adam Middleton, as well as Kateâs friend Sophie Carter, and two close friends of Williamâs, James Meade and Thomas van Straubenzee.
Afterwards guests enjoyed tea and cake at Sandringham House, the queenâs nearby country retreat, including slices of christening cake â cut from a tier of William and Kateâs 2011 wedding cake.
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