Walking down memory lane! The royal family has been christening their babies for generations — and sharing photos of their baptism ceremonies.
Prince William’s christening ceremony took place on 4th August 1982.
The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother posed for a pic alongside Princess Diana and newborn Prince William in April 1982.
1. Like his father, Prince Charles, Prince William was christened in the ornate music room of Buckingham Palace. The 25-minute-long ceremony took place on his great-grandmother, The Queen Mother’s 82nd birthday.
2. Compared to the smaller affairs for his children’s christenings decades later, Prince William’s was a larger, more formal occasion and was attended by most of the Royal Family. Two exceptions were Prince Andrew and Princess Margaret, who were both abroad at the time.
Also read: Prince Charles reveals how William reacted to Harry’s birth.
3. The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Robert Runcie, who christened him William Arthur Philip Louis.
4. As per tradition, the baby prince wore the same gown that his father, grandmother, and dozens of other royal babies before him wore for their christenings.
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You can view a video of the christening’s photo session on YouTube, during which the hungry infant prince seems to root for milk and cries throughout the long photo session.
5. The robe, made of Honiton lace, was ordered by Queen Victoria in 1841 for the christening of her daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal. It has since been retired due to the age and fragility of the garment, and a replica was worn by Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
6. William’s godparents were:
- King Constantine II, the former King of Greece and a cousin of Prince Philip
- Lord Romsey, grandson of Lord Mountbatten, who was Charles’s beloved uncle tragically killed by the IRA
- Sir Laurens van der Post, author and a mentor to Prince Charles
- Princess Alexandra, The Queen’s cousin
- Lady Susan Hussey, Lady in Waiting to The Queen
- The Duchess of Westminster, a close friend of Diana, Princess of Wales
7. At one point, The Queen gestures toward a visibly stressed Diana, telling her to offer him her finger to suck. The new mother does, and William calms down immediately. But throughout the video, he screams as soon as her finger is removed.
Also read: Video: Watch this adorable unearthed clip of Prince William helping Princess Diana with her makeup.
Looking back, we can see how these formal christenings have made way for more relaxed family events. For his own children, The Duke of Cambridge bucked tradition and held intimate christenings outside of Buckingham Palace.
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