Now ‘rule of six’ will hit christenings
JUST six people can be present at a christening under the new regulations – including the baby.
The application of the ‘ rule of six’ to the ceremony from Monday leaves parents facing a difficult choice over which grandparents to invite.
All ‘standalone life cycle’ events will now be subject to the rule, so only three people in addition to the parents and baby can attend.
It was announced yesterday that wedding services and receptions will be restricted to 15 guests, down from 30 as of Monday, according to the new rules.
The numbers for funerals are unchanged, with 30 mourners able to attend. But Downing Street confirmed last night that christenings would be subject to the new laws.
It means that only three grandparents will be able to attend the Christian service after the parents and the child. The priest will not be included in the six.
The Church of England website suggests those being baptised should have ‘at least three’ godparents, although the parents can take up two of those roles, plus one other. The rule change comes days after Boris Johnson had his own son baptised.
The Prime Minister and fiancee Carrie Symonds had Wilfred christened a Catholic, it was confirmed this week.
Westminster Cathedral said the couple had their four-month- old son baptised there in a ceremony on September 12, conducted by Father Daniel Humphreys.
A small christening was held in the Henry VII Lady Chapel, according to The Daily Telegraph.
The 16th- century chapel is the burial place of 15 monarchs including Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots and James I.
The Prime Minister and Miss Symonds, who has previously talked about her Catholic faith on social media, were reportedly holding Wilfred as he was baptised.