It is the first time we have seen the Cambridge family all together. They made the 1/4-mile walk from Sandringham to the church, much to the delight of well-wishers.
photo via The Daily Mail
It was a short and intimate service, much like Prince George's, and was attended by only close family and friends including, from the Daily Mail:
William, Kate, George and Charlotte
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall
Carole Middleton, Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton and James Middleton
Sophie Carter, James Meade and his wife Lady Laura Marsham, Adam Middleton and his wife Rebecca, Laura Fellowes and her husband Nick Pettman, Thomas van Straubenzee and his wife Lady Melissa van Straubenzee.
(George and Charlotte's nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo will also be in the church, but not as an official guest.)
This morning the godparents of Princess Charlotte were announced. The Daily Mail had a good depiction of each godparent and their connection to the Duke and Duchess:
The Hon Laura Fellowes, 34, is William's cousin and the daughter of Princess Diana's older sister, Lady Jane Fellowes. Laura's father Baron Fellowes was private secretary to the Queen throughout the notoriously tricky 1990s. Based in Norfolk, she is part of the so-called 'Turnip Toffs' country set who are friendly with William and Kate, who have been living in their Sandringham country home Anmer Hall since Charlotte's birth. Laura married City banking figure Nick Pettman at Snettisham, in Norfolk, in 2009, with William and Kate among the guests - an appearance which prompted speculation the pair's engagement was imminent. The couple now have two sons.
As a child, Laura was famously pictured as a bridesmaid with William when he was spotted misbehaving - sticking his tongue out and yawning - as a pageboy at the Duke and Duchess of York's wedding.
Chartered surveyor, Thomas van Straubenzee, 33, has known William since both attended Ludgrove prep school in Berkshire, and he accompanied the Prince to New Zealand on his gap year. Known simply as 'Van' to his friends, he is a key figure in the Duke and Duchess's inner circle. He worked at Strutt & Parker estate agents, and as a property finder, and in 2012 set up VanHan, a London estate agency, which has offices in London, Dubai, Moscow and Hong Kong.
Mr van Straubenzee's friendship with both William and Harry made headlines in 2011 when he was mugged at knifepoint in Battersea while talking on the phone to Harry, and concerned Prince drove across town to check on him. He married Lady Melissa Percy, the youngest daughter of the Duke of Northumberland, at St Michael's Church in Northumbria in 2013. Kate was heavily pregnant with Prince George at the time and unable to attend, but both William and Harry were ushers at the ceremony and Harry's ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was a bridesmaid.
James Meade went to Eton with William and has been a good friend since school. He is the son of Olympic gold medallist equestrian Richard Meade. He is also close to Kate and even accompanied her to the Badminton Horse Trials after her brief split from William in May 2007. Mr Meade, known to his friends as 'Meadey', once took part in a charity boxing match at Boodles Boxing Ball in 2008 - watched by William and Kate, under the nickname 'the Badger’. He is married to Lady Laura Marsham, daughter of the 8th Earl of Romney. Kate missed their wedding to look after Prince George who was only a few months old at the time, but William, who was an usher, Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton all attended.
Adam Middleton is Kate's cousin and she is friendly with him, along with another cousin Lucy Middleton, a solicitor. In June last year, Kate attended Mr Middleton's wedding to interior designer Rebecca Poynton at London's posh Dorchester Hotel. He is the son of Michael Middleton's brother, Richard, and is said to work in Mayfair advising senior business executives.
At the christening, the ornate Lily Font and matching christening ewer were used. They are usually displayed in the Tower of London with the Crown Jewels.
photo via The Daily Mail
Prince George was very well-behaved on the walk to the church and looked as adorable as ever. I especially like this picture of him seemingly curious of what his sister was getting up to!
photo via The Daily Mail
Prince George was dressed in an almost identical outfit to that which Prince William wore when he visited St Mary's Hospital to meet Prince Harry, when he was born.
photo via The Daily Mail
However, Prince George is wearing Rachel Riley's Smocked Set which is available for £85.
Princess Charlotte looked very peaceful in her pram.
photo via The Daily Mail
She is wearing the same christening gown that Prince George wore. All members of the royal family who are christened wear the same gown. It is a replica of the one worn by Queen Victoria's children for their christenings.
photo via Kensington Palace's Twitter Feed
The Queen looked lovely in pale pink.
photo via The Daily Mail
And the Duchess of Cornwall looked lovely, albeit wind-swept, in pale blue.
photo via The Daily Mail
Pippa Middleton channelled a 1950's look in cream by Emilia Wickstead. Pippa also chose a cream coat for Prince George's christening but that time it was by Suzannah.
photos via The Daily Mail
Carole Middleton chose a bespoke coat-dress by Catherine Walker. Carole Middleton also wore Catherine Walker for Prince George's christening.
photos via The Daily Mail
Now, on to what the Duchess wore. She chose a bespoke Alexander McQueen dress-coat.
photo via The Daily Mail
People will remember that Kate chose bespoke Alexander McQueen for Prince George's christening too!
For a similar Alexander McQueen coat you can see very close similarities with the Alexander McQueen A-Line Crepe Coat.
The Duchess wore her Russell & Bromley Avenue 2 Shoes.
She also wore a bespoke Jane Taylor hat and new earrings. She wore her hair in a classic chignon.
photo via The Daily Mail
We have often seen Kate in the matching necklace but not the earrings in public before. They are the Mappin & Webb Empress Drop Earrings which are still available for £1,250.
She also wore the Mappin & Webb Empress Pendant which is available for £2,450.
Copy-Kate
A really good Copy-Kate alternative for her dress-coat is the Monsoon Jackie Jacquard Coat. It is a lovely option for a summer wedding or special occasion! It is currently available in the sale for £99.50 - a much more affordable option that bespoke!
Kate looked lovely today and I am very much looking forward to seeing the official photographs which will be released either this evening or tomorrow morning hopefully!
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