Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, the second of the two sons and the youngest of the three children of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, was christened on July 9, 2018, at The Chapel Royal, St. James’s Palace, London. Prince Louis is fifth in the line of succession after his grandfather The Prince of Wales, his father The Duke of Cambridge, his elder brother Prince George of Cambridge, and his elder sister Princess Charlotte of Cambridge. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury officiated at the christening. The Archbishop tweeted, “I’m delighted and privileged to be christening Prince Louis today – a precious child made in God’s image, just as we all are. Please join me in praying for him and his family on this special day.”
- Kensington Palace Twitter: Members of the Royal Family arrive at St James’s Palace for the christening of Prince Louis (video)
- British Monarchy: The Christening of Prince Louis – Service Details
The guest list was limited to Prince Louis’ grandparents, his aunts and uncles, his siblings, and his godparents and their spouses. The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh did not attend the christening. Buckingham Palace said the decision was taken by The Queen and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge “some time ago” and it is not due to health reasons.
Guests who attended the christening:
- The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall: Prince Louis’ paternal grandfather and his wife
- The Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Louis’ paternal uncle Prince Harry and his wife
- Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge
- Mr. and Mrs. Michael Middleton: Prince Louis’ maternal grandparents
- Mr. and Mrs. James Matthews: Prince Louis’ maternal aunt Pippa and her husband
- Mr. James Middleton: Prince Louis’ maternal uncle
- The godparents of Prince Louis and their spouses
BBC: The Queen and Prince Philip to miss Prince Louis christening
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge asked the following people to be godparents to Prince Louis:
- Mr. Nicholas van Cutsem: a friend of The Duke of Cambridge
- Mr. Guy Pelly: a friend of The Duke of Cambridge
- Mr. Harry Aubrey-Fletcher: a school friend of The Duke of Cambridge
- Lady Laura Meade: formerly Laura Marsham, the daughter of Julian Marsham, 8th Earl of Romney; wife of James Meade who is a close friend of The Duke of Cambridge and is a godfather of Princess Charlotte
- Mrs. Robert Carter: Hannah Carter, a school friend of The Duchess of Cambridge
- Miss Lucy Middleton: cousin of The Duchess of Cambridge
Prince Louis wore the handmade replica of the Royal Christening Robe. The original Royal Christening Robe, of fine Honiton lace lined with white satin, was made in 1841 for the christening of Queen Victoria’s eldest child, Victoria, Princess Royal. That gown was worn for all royal christenings, including The Queen, her children, and her grandchildren, until the youngest of The Queen’s eight grandchildren, James, Viscount Severn. The Queen commissioned Angela Kelly, Dressmaker to The Queen, to make a hand-made replica of the Royal Christening Robe in order to preserve the original. James, Viscount Severn, was the first member of the Royal Family to wear this replica gown at his christening on April 19, 2008.
The christening of Victoria, Princess Royal, 10 February 1841; Credit – Wikipedia
The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan was used during the christening. The Lily Font is a silver baptismal font which was commissioned by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1840 after the birth of their first child, Victoria, Princess Royal. It was first used at The Princess Royal’s christening in 1841 and has been used for royal christenings ever since.
Following the service, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted a private tea at Clarence House. Guests were served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake.
BBC Prince Louis’s christening takes place – without Queen or Duke