Five Things to Watch at Princess Charlotte’s Christening
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HRH The Duchess of Cambridge via Getty Images(LONDON) — Princess Charlotte, the first daughter of Prince William and Princess Kate, will be christened in the U.K. on July 5. The christening for the fourth-in-line to the British throne will be a family affair with unique details.
Here are five things to watch at the royal celebration:
1. Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana
The princess will be just three days past her two-month birthday on the day she is christened. The last time Princess Charlotte was seen in public was when she left St. Mary’s Hospital in London the day she was born, May 2. The only other glimpse of the newborn came in photos released last month, and taken by Duchess Kate, of Charlotte being held by her big brother, Prince George.
2. Who’s Who of the Royal Family
As with Prince George’s christening, at which the attendance was capped at 22, only immediate family, godparents and their spouses have been invited. The queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Camilla will be joined by Kate’s siblings, Pippa and James, and her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. Prince Harry, Charlotte’s uncle, will miss the christening because he is spending the summer in Africa.
3. The Godparents
Prince William and Princess Kate are expected to announce Princess Charlotte’s godparents this weekend. There is still speculation that Prince Harry could be chosen, despite his absence at the christening. With Prince George, Prince William and Princess Kate shifted from royal tradition by choosing only one royal to be among George’s seven godparents.
4. World-Famous Photographer
Recording the milestone in Princess Charlotte’s life will be none other than world-renowned photographer Mario Testino, tapped by Prince William and Princess Kate to take the official photographs of the christening party after Charlotte’s baptism. Testino, 60, also photographed William and Kate for their engagement photo and was chosen by the late Princess Diana, Charlotte’s grandmother, to photograph her for Vanity Fair.
5. Connection to Princess Diana
The church where Princess Charlotte will be christened on Sunday, St. Mary Magdalene Church, is the same church where her late grandmother, Princess Diana, was baptized in 1961. In choosing St. Mary Magdalene Church for Charlotte’s christening, Prince William and Kate are making a poignant nod to William’s mother, as they did when they selected their daughter’s name, Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana. The church is located on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate. Diana was born at Park House at Sandringham and spent time there as a young child.
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