Prince George christened in private family ceremony

HRH Prince George, the three-month-old son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and third in line to the throne - has been christened today (Wednesday 23 October) in a private ceremony.

The Archbishop of Canterbury carried out the ceremony at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. The Queen and Prince Philip attended the low key service with other friends and relatives, including Prince Harry the Duchess' parents Carole and Michael Middleton and her siblings Pippa and James. Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton read lessons.

The seven godparents - Oliver Baker, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Earl Grosvenor, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and the Duke of Cambridge's cousin, Zara Tindall - were also present.

The duchess carried her son in her arms from the chapel after the ceremony, before leaving with guests for a tea party hosted by the Prince of Wales at Clarence House.

The Duke and Duchess' choice of venue, the intimate Chapel Royal, breaks slightly with tradition - other Royal christenings have taken place in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace. The Chapel is where the Duke's mother Diana's coffin rested for the family to pay their private respects before her public funeral.

The young Prince wore a handmade christening gown identical to the traditional lace and satin robe in which Prince William was christened in 1982 which dated back to Queen Victoria's reign.

Following the service, the Duke and Duchess' chosen photographer Jason Bell was expected to replicate the historic image of Queen Victoria with three future monarchs - Edward VII, George V and the baby Prince Edward, who became Edward VIII.

The photograph will feature the Queen, her son Charles, her grandson William and her great-grandson George and is likely to be released publically on Thursday.