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Prince & Princess of Wales

Princess Charlotte’s godparents announced as royals prepare for Christening

Princess Charlotte’s godparents have been announced by Kensington Palace ahead of the Christening of the baby princess this afternoon at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.

Royal babyThe godparents, who will be among the small number who attend the Christening at around 4.30pm this afternoon, have been named as:

  • Miss Sophie Carter
  • Mr James Meade
  • Mr Adam Middleton
  • The Hon. Laura Fellowes
  • Mr Thomas van Straubenzee

According to Kensington Palace, all are “friends or family of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge”.

Among the godparents is the Duchess’s cousin Adam Middleton as well as Prince William’s cousin through his mother Diana Laura Fellowes, the daughter of Diana’s sister Jane Fellowes.

The five godparents and their spouses will join senior members of the Royal Family at the Sandringham church later. Officials say The Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be present, along with the Duchess of Cambridge’s immediate family: parents Michael and Carole and siblings James and Pippa.

The service will begin with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walking down to the Church from Sandringham House with Princess Charlotte and along with Prince George, who will also attend the Christening.

As is traditional, Princess Charlotte will wear the replica Royal Christening Robe (created by Angela Kelly) first used by Lord Severn at his christening back in 2008 and used at successive royal christenings since, including that of Prince George back in 2013. The baby princess will be christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the royal Lily Font, commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1840 and used first for the Christening of Princess Victoria in 1841.

Princess Charlotte will be baptised using water especially brought in from the River Jordan for the occasion.

After the service at St Mary Magdalene Church, William and Kate will host ‘a tea’ at Sandringham House where those invited will be served slices of the christening cake, a tier from the Duke and Duchess’s wedding cake which has been preserved, as is traditional. The original wedding cake had eight tiers and was made from 17 fruit cakes.

The Cambridges have also taken the step of inviting members of the public to stand in the paddock outside the Church for the otherwise private christening as they arrive, as a thank you for the “warm wishes they have received since Princess Charlotte’s birth”.

Palace officials say more details on the service itself will be made public later this afternoon.

photo credit: HRH the Duchess of Cambridge