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LONDON – The christening of Kate Middleton and Prince William‘s baby boy, George Alexander, Louis generated headlines Wednesday in the U.K. and abroad as the royal couple had the third in line to the throne baptized.
The baptism was carried out privately in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace in the British capital Wednesday afternoon.
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The Archbishop of Canterbury was on hand to wet the baby’s head in what was a personal occasion for the royal couple with only senior royals, four members of the Middleton family, the seven godparents and their spouses among the 22 guests.
Prince George was born in London on July 22 amid a global media frenzy, but his christening — while generating headlines across the U.K. broadcasting media, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky, and conjuring copy on news web sites from national newspapers The Telegraph, The Guardian, the Daily Mail and the tabloids – struck a more muted, low-key note.
U.S. outlets carried the news of the christening, but passed on quickly to other news, with news of the ceremony reported on from Australia to South Africa to the Far East and beyond.
Before the ceremony, the list of the future king’s godparents was released, pored over in the media and used to flag up the baby’s baptism.
For the record, the godparents are Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine–Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther–Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and Zara Tindall.
Tindall, wife of former England rugby player Mike Tindall, is Prince William’s cousin, while the other six godparents are all friends of the royal couple.
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According to the BBC, Prince George was baptized in a replica of the lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.
The British monarchy’s official website published the order of service for the ceremony, which included the fact the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had chosen two anthems, two hymns and two lessons from the Bible.
Lessons from St. Luke and St. John were read by Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry.
The anthems were sung by the Choir of Her Majesty’s Chapel Royal, which performed at the royal couple’s wedding.
Celebrity photographer Jason Bell was set to take a picture of the queen and princes Charles, William and George together.
This will echo a 1894 picture from the christening of the future Edward VIII, showing him with his father, grandfather and great-grandmother — George V, Edward VII and Queen Victoria.
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