Entertainment
How Do The Royal Kids' Christenings Compare?
Royal babies: they're just like regular babies, only fancier and way, way more popular. A crowd of several thousand people gathered to watch the British royal family make their way to Princess Charlotte's christening on Sunday, July 5. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge welcomed their second child officially and fancily named Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge last May, and in keeping with royal tradition, baptized their new baby during a private ceremony attended by family, close friends, and way more godparents than their kid will probably ever need. Like her older brother and baby style icon Prince George's christening, Princess Charlotte's was an intimate, closed-door ceremony with all the usual pomp, circumstance, and air kisses that typically accompany a traditional royal event. Pastels were plentiful, and the guests' respective hat games were strong.
Though in keeping with tradition, there doesn't seem to be a lot of room for the baby's parents to be creative when it comes to their kids' christening, there were some slight differences between Prince George's and Princess Charlotte's christening ceremonies. Now that two new British royal babies have both been made official members of the Church of England, as is traditional, here's how the babies' fancy special days compare:
Prince George's Christening
The Gown
When Prince George was christened back in 2013, CNN reported that Prince George wore a replica of the "elaborate lace and satin christening gown" made in 1841 that the Queen, Prince Charles, the Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry wore to their christenings.
The Guests
George's great-grandparents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended, as well as his grandfather Prince Charles, his uncle, Prince Harry, and the Middletons, Carole, Michael, James, and Pippa.
The Location
The ceremony was held at St. James Palace.
The Hats
Kate Middleton's fascinator was a high point, naturally. The Queen wore a demure baby blue.
The Arrival
Princess Charlotte's Christening
The Gown
Princess Charlotte wore the same fancy lace number that her brother wore for his ceremony.
The Guests
All the usual suspects: The Queen, wearing pastel pink, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Harry, and of course, The Middletons and their fascinators.
The Location
Unlike George's christening, Charlotte's ceremony was held at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. She was christened with five godparents, unlike George's seven, and none of them were royals.
The Hats
Camilla Parker Bowles was the clear winner this time, crushing it in a baby blue hat.
The Arrival
So while Charlotte's christening certainly wasn't too different than that of her brother's, there were some notable distinctions between the two ceremonies — including the biggest of them all, the fact that Princess Charlotte had an adorable older sibling eager to help celebrate her special occasion.
Images: Getty Images
