Diana remembered as UK princess christened

Princess Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in a nod to her great-grandmother, the queen, and her late grandmother. (Right) Prince William and his wife Kate, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the queen's husband Prin
Princess Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in a nod to her great-grandmother, the queen, and her late grandmother. PHOTO: EUREPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY
Princess Charlotte's full name is Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, in a nod to her great-grandmother, the queen, and her late grandmother. (Right) Prince William and his wife Kate, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the queen's husband Prin
(Above) Prince William and his wife Kate, with the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the queen's husband Prince Philip next to him, were present at St Mary Magdalene Church for the christening on Sunday. The princess' brother, Prince George, was there as well. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON • Britain's Princess Charlotte, the baby daughter of Prince William and his wife, Kate, has been christened with one grandparent - the prince's late mother, Princess Diana - absent but not forgotten.

The low-key ceremony with just 21 guests was held on Sunday in the 16th century Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate of the baby's great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II - the church where Diana herself was baptised.

The princess' full name, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, is a nod to her late grandmother as well as to Queen Elizabeth II. And Princess Diana's niece, Lady Laura Fellowes, was one of five godparents.

The royal baby's second public appearance since her birth nine weeks ago left the church in a vintage black pram pushed by Kate, while her one-year-old brother, George, dressed in bright red shorts and a white embroidered shirt, walked hand-in-hand with his father.

Guests included the 89-year-old queen and her husband, Prince Philip, three future kings - the baby's grandfather, Prince Charles, father William and brother George - plus her mother's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Princess Charlotte was christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the Anglican Church, who poured holy water from the River Jordan on the baby's head.

The princess wore the same christening robe that George had worn. The lace and satin gown, made by Queen Elizabeth's dressmaker, is a replica of one first used by the royal family in 1841.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have said they want their children to have relatively normal upbringings and have closely guarded their privacy, bringing them up in a secluded mansion Anmer Hall, close to the church.

REUTERS, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on July 07, 2015, with the headline Diana remembered as UK princess christened. Subscribe