No Royals among the Godparents for Princess Charlotte
William and Kate asked Miss Fellowes - the daughter of one of Diana, Princess of Wales’s sisters, to take on the spiritual role for the nine-week-old Princess, as well as friends Sophie Carter and James Meade, Kate’s cousin Adam Middleton and William’s close friend Thomas van Straubenzee.
Kensington Palace revealed the names of the chosen few ahead of the fourth in line to the throne’s christening at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk.
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Hide AdThe godparents will join the Duke, Duchess, Charlotte and Prince George, the Princess’s great-grandparents the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, grandparents the Prince of Wales and Carole and Michael Middleton, step-grandmother the Duchess of Cornwall and Kate’s siblings Pippa and James Middleton for the traditional religious service.
No members of the royal family were among the godparents this time. For George, the Duke and Duchess asked the Princess Royal’s daughter Zara Phillips.
William and Kate were always expected to pick close friends for Charlotte’s godparents, but they were also thought likely to include at least one member of the Windsor clan.
Charlotte has two fewer godparents than future king George - who has seven.
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Hide AdKensington Palace said William and Kate would walk from Sandringham House to church with their children for the service - which will delight of the large crowds who are expected to gather to see the baby princess.
Although the ceremony, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Rev Justin Welby, is private, the Duke and Duchess have agreed to allow members of the public into the area near the church known as the paddock to see the royals as they make their way to and from the venue.
It will be the first time the Cambridges have been seen in public as a family of four and only the second glimpse of the princess in public since she was born.
Charlotte and George’s full-time live-in nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo will be on hand to help but the Princess’s uncle, Prince Harry, will miss the event, having already left to spend three months in Africa.
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Hide AdThe church, close to the Cambridges’ country mansion Anmer Hall, is used by the Queen when she is in residence on her private estate and is where the royal family worship on Christmas Day each year.
Archbishop Welby will give an address and will be supported by The Reverend Canon Jonathan Riviere, the rector of the Sandringham group of parishes.
Mario Testino has been asked by William and Kate to take the official photographs after the service.
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge was born on May 2 at 8.34am, weighing 8lbs 3oz.
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Hide AdJust like George, Charlotte will be christened in a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.
Royal babies are also christened using the ornate silver gilt Lily Font which is usually on show as part of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London.