Royal Baby Prince George Christened With 7 Godparents

Prince George made his first public appearance in three months Wednesday, as he arrived with his parents, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, for his christening at St. James's Palace.

The baby prince smiled as he was shown off to family members including his great-grandparents, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, before the royals entered the Chapel Royal.

George was dressed in an intricate lace and satin christening gown that's a replica of one made in 1841 for the christening of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter.

Being baptized into the church is more important for George than for most people, since he is in line to become king, which would also make him the supreme governor of the Church of England.

 The occasion was kept unexpectedly small, in a shift away from the larger ceremonies that his father and grandfather enjoyed at Buckingham Palace.

His grandfather Prince Charles and uncle, Prince Harry, were among the select few invited to the ceremony, along with Catherine's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her siblings, James and Pippa.

The royal baby, who was born in July, has seven godparents, among them Prince William's cousin Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne, and close friends of the couple.

They include Oliver Baker, who got to know William and Catherine at St. Andrew's University, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to school with Catherine, and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of William.

The other godparents are Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry; Julia Samuel, who was a good friend of William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales; and Earl Grosvenor, son of the Duke of Westminster.

The replica christening gown was brought into use in 2008 to help preserve the 170-year-old original, used until then for every royal christening, including those of Prince William and his father, Charles.

The venue for the christening also has a distinct significance for Prince William. The body of his mother, Diana, rested in the Chapel Royal for five days before her funeral in 1997.

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Kate Middleton and William Break With Tradition on Godparents

Prince William and Kate reportedly have broken with royal tradition by choosing childhood and university friends to be the godparents of their son, Prince George.

The baptism of Prince George of Cambridge, who was born on July 22 in London, will take place on October 23 in the Royal Chapel of St James Palace, although the royal family still has not formally announced the names of the godparents.

Prince William and Kate have selected Fergus Boyd, a friend of the prince from the University of St Andrews in Scotland, as one of Prince George's godparents along with two childhood pals, Kate's friend Emilia d'Erlanger and William's friend Hugh van Cutsem.

Apparently, the decision was made because the royal couple believes their friends will provide more stability and a sense of normality to Prince George, who is third in line for British throne after Prince Charles and William.

The choice flies in the face of royal tradition, since princes have always had other princes or kings as their godparents. In the case of William, former King Constantine of Greece, is his godfather.

William also broke with royal tradition by choosing the chapel at St James Palace - and not Buckingham Palace - as the site of his son's baptism.

British media just confirmed that the baptism will be an intimate one for only closest relatives, including the Queen, Prince Philip, as well as Kate's parents and siblings and Prince Harry.

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