Gorgeous George ... just 3 months old and he steals the show
THE Queen has become only the second sovereign in British history to be pictured with three future monarchs after posing with her son, grandson and great- grandson on Prince George’s christening day.
The scene at Clarence House this week was the fi rst time in more than a century that there were that many living heirs to the throne gathered in celebration.
The only other occasion was for the christening of Edward VIII – the ill- fated King who went on to abdicate – who was held by his great- grandmother Queen Victoria, watched by his father, later George V, and his grandfather, the future Edward VII, at his christening on July 16, 1894, at White Lodge in Richmond Park, London.
Prince George, who behaved impeccably throughout the christening service in the Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace, appeared equally serene during the offi cial photo session with photographer Jason Bell during a tea party at neighbouring Clarence House afterwards.
Gurgling while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge took turns to hold him, he was captured in one photograph as he sat on his mother’s knee throwing his arms into the air in an animated display.
Bell, a 44- year- old celebrity photographer from London who has previously taken acclaimed images of stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Johnny Depp, Scarlett Johansson and David Beckham, assembled the Royal Family and the Middletons in the Morning Room at Clarence House for the session.
Traditional
Using the ornate furniture around him as props, at one stage he switched photographs of Prince Harry, one alone and one with his father, on a side table.
William and Kate, who surveyed the pictures yesterday morning with aides, authorised four images from the session on Wednesday afternoon to be published.
In one, the Queen sits on a sofa beside Kate, William and George with Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, and Prince Harry standing behind her on one side, next to Kate’s sister Pippa, brother James and parents Carole and Michael Middleton.
In a second shot, the royal couple and their three- month- old son were captured together, while a third showed the Queen gazing adoringly at her great- grandson in a group shot of the senior members of the Royal Family at the gathering.
The fourth image – more formal than the rest and placing the Queen at the centre of the photograph with William holding the baby rather than the 87- year- old monarch – invokes comparisons with the picture of Victoria and her heirs.
The christening pictures suggest that, although fashions change, the monarchy likes to stick to its tried and tested ways.
Aides, who have always described William and Kate as a conservative couple with a more informal style than previous generations of royals, had been very keen to make the christening a traditional affair. One royal source said: “It was what you’d expect at a royal christening. It refl ected the couple’s choice.”
At Edward VIII’s christening, his great- grandmother Queen Victoria was accompanied in her carriage by her granddaughter Alix of Hesse and her fi ance Tsarevitch Nicholas, soon to be Nicholas II, the last Tsar of Russia.
Nicholas noted in his diary: “Granny gave him seven names.” ( They were Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, after his grandfather, two great- grandfathers and the patron saints of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.)
Nicholas continued: “The Archbishop wet his fi ngers and touched the baby’s head. Then we had tea in the garden. Four generations had their photograph taken together.”
THE Duchess of Cambridge looked stunning last night as she attended a fundraising gala dinner to help people fi ght addiction.
Dressed in a sweeping floorlength dark blue gown and with her hair fl owing, the Duchess arrived at the event alone, just a day after her son Prince George captured the nation’s heart with a gurgling performance at his christening.
Kate joined the 100 Women In Hedge Funds philanthropic initiatives event in aid of the charity Action on Addiction at the Kensington Palace State Apart- ments. The Duchess is a patron of both Action on Addiction and 100 Women In Hedge Funds which is an organisation for professionals in the investment industry.
The event, so soon after the christening, continues Kate’s accelerating return to public life following the birth on July 22.
She attended a reception and, during dinner, presented an award for industry leadership.
The Duchess also spoke briefly about the success of Wednesday’s christening telling fascinated guests that Prince George was “such a good boy”.
Amanda Pullinger, executive director of the philanthropic group, said: “We are honoured that the Duchess of Cambridge has once again lent her support to 100 Women in Hedge Funds for our London gala, and particularly as one of her fi rst public appearances since the birth of her son.”
The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry are also patrons of 100 WHF, which is focusing on helping Action on Addiction this year, WellChild next year and The Art Room in 2015.