Prince George will be christened by Archbishop of Canterbury at chapel ceremony next month 

• Kensington Palace announces christening date as October 23
• Christening will take place at Chapel Royal, St James's Palace
• Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, will perform the ceremony
• Dr Welby said it was a 'great privilege and honour' to be invited to perform baptism
• Princess Beatrice was the last royal baby to be christened at the chapel in 1988 

By ELLIE BUCHDAHL, JENNIFER SMITH and REBECCA ENGLISH

PUBLISHED: 16:21, 27 September 2013 | UPDATED: 20:11, 27 September 2013

Prince George is to be christened by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, on Wednesday October 23 at the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace, it was announced today.

A statement released by Kensington Palace today said that Prince William and Catherine were 'pleased to announce' the date of the christening at the royal residence in Pall Mall.

The statement read: 'Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to announce the christening of Prince George will take place on Wednesday, 23rd October at The Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.

Christening: Prince George was born on July 22 and is third in line to the throne

'Prince George will be christened by The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.'

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are expected to attend the christening along with the Prince of Wales, who has become a grandfather for the first time, and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Kate's family - parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James - are likely to be invited along with the Prince's godparents, who have not been publicly named.

The christening will be a private event with photographs released afterwards of William, Kate and their son, together with senior royals.

Kensington Palace said 'close members of both families' would attend but the names of senior guests would be released at a later date.

The release of a rare family picture will accompany the christening - a monarch and three heirs to the throne.

The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was looking forward to welcoming Prince George into the 'family of the church' in a statement released today

This is not the first time such a picture has been taken to add to the royal photo albums.

In 1894, Queen Victoria was photographed with her son Edward VII, grandson George V and great-grandson Edward VIII.

Royal christenings are usually held at Buckingham Palace or at places of worship at Windsor Castle.

It is understood that William and Kate favoured the Chapel Royal because it is, in the words of one royal aide, ‘an historic, quite intimate chapel.’

'It is something they have been thinking about for some time and they just very much liked personally,’ they said.

Princess Beatrice was the last royal baby to be christened at St James's Palace in December 1988.

The Prince was born on July 22 this year at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in west London.

He is third in line to the throne after her father, Prince William, who is second in line to his father, Prince Charles.

The Archbishop has spoken of his joy at being asked to conduct the christening: 'I am delighted to be invited to conduct the baptism of his royal highness Prince George.

'It is a great privilege and honour and will without doubt be an occasion of immense joy and celebration. I am looking forward to welcoming him into the family of the church.'

The young prince will be christened in a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.

It was made by the Queen's dresser Angela Kelly and the team of dressmakers at Buckingham Palace, and features the same lengthy skirt and elaborate collars and bow as the original gown which is 172 years old. 

The Earl and Countess of Wessex's son Viscount Severn became the first royal baby to wear the new robe at his christening in 2008.

The history of the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace

Though Prince George is the first member of the royal family to be christened in the Chapel Royal for 25 years, it has been the backdrop for many royal milestones since its construction in the 16th century.  

Built by Henry VIII following his short-lived fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves, the chapel at St James's Palace is the believed burial site of Mary I's heart. 

It is where Elizabeth I chose to remain during the Spanish Armada in 1588 to pray, receiving updates of the conflict's progress via fire beacon from Cornwall. 

The Chapel Royal at St James's Palace has been the scene of many royal milestones since its construction under the order of Henry VIII in 1540

Members of the Order of Merit within the Chapel where Prince George will be christened later this month

Queen Victoria married Prince Albert at the Chapel Royal in 1840 underneath its decorated ceiling which is painted with royal initials and coats of arms. 

Her marriage certificate, handwritten by the Archbishop of Canterbury and signed both by the bride and groom still hangs in the Chapel's vestry. 

In 1997, the coffin of Diana, Princess of Wales lay before the chapel's altar ahead of her funeral in Westminster Abbey. 

At the end of the Civil War, Charles I received the Sacrament of Holy Communion within the chapel's walls before his execution in Whitehall in 1649.

Duke of York and Duchess of York leaving the Chapel Royal with Princess Beatrice after her christening in 1988

Various changes were made to the building in 1836 with the addition of side galleries and a new ceiling to match the original 1540 ciphers. 

The Chapel Royal also has a long musical history with many noted organists and composers having performed there. 

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were married in the Chapel Royal in 1840. Their marriage certificate still hangs in the chapel's vestry

Among the most well known are Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons and Henry Purcell who lived in a suite of apartments within the Palace.  

It is believed the poet, John Dryden, who was frequently in debt, used to take refuge with Purcell in his apartments in order to avoid the clutches of persistent creditors.

One of the Chapel's most notable organists and composers was George Frederick Handel, who was appointed by George II as 'Composer of Musick of His Majesty's Chappel Royal' in 1723. 

The title was constructed to allow Handel, still a German citizen, to contribute to the musical development of the Chapel Royal without actually being a member of it.

Handel composed the great anthem 'Zadok the Priest' for the coronation of George II in 1727. 

The song has been used at every coronation since. and is also sung at the Royal Maundy service in which the Queen distributes Maundy money to elderly members of the church on the day before Good Friday. 

The nearby Queen's Chapel was built by James I for the Catholic bride of his son, later Charles I, and designed by Inigo Jones.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2435254/Prince-George-christened-Archbishop-Canterbury-chapel-month.html#ixzz2g7koQbCf
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Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson 'are back together' 17 years after divorce

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson 'are back together' 17 years after divorce amid claims they are thinking of marriage 

• The Duke and Duchess of York have remained close since their split in 1996
• Pair both live on the grounds of the Royal Lodge in Berkshire
• Friends of the couple say 'it's only a matter of time' before they get married 
• Revelation comes after Fergie joined her ex-husband on a trip to Balmoral 

By SUZANNAH HILLS

PUBLISHED: 09:40, 25 August 2013 | UPDATED: 11:40, 25 August 2013

The Duke and Duchess of York have found love again after rekindling their romance seventeen years after they divorced.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, both 53, have remained close since their split in 1996, even living together at the former country home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at the Royal Lodge in Berkshire.

And now friends of the pair claim they are officially a couple again and may even get married for the second time in the near future.

Together again: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, pictured in 1995 shortly before their divorce, are said to have rekindled their romance

One friend told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Mark my words, they will remarry. It is only a matter of time.'

Another added: 'It wouldn’t surprise me at all. They are a wonderful couple together and, better still, pretty amazing parents.'

The revelation comes after Fergie joined her former husband on a trip to Balmoral earlier this month.

It is believed to be the first time she has invited to stay in the main castle on the Queen's estate since a tabloid newspaper published photographs of her having her toes sucked by her 'financial adviser' John Bryan in 1992.

Royal ride: Fergie was driven to the airport by her former husband Prince Andrew while her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie travelled in the back seat ahead of a family visit to Balmoral

Back in the fold: The once disgraced Duchess of York flew to Balmoral to spend the weekend with the Queen

Fergie was joined by Andrew, and daughters Beatrice and Eugenie on the private jet

The Queen has long been said to have remained fond of her former daughter-in-law, but Prince Philip is said to be baffled by Fergie and Prince Andrew's relationship

While she has still visited Balmoral since her divorce, it is thought to be the first time she has been invited to stay in the main castle on the Queen's estate since her marriage ended in 1996

The Duke and Duchess were joined by their daughters Beatrice, 25, and her sister, Princess Eugenie, 23, to spend the weekend with the Queen. 

At the time of the visit at the beginning of this month a source told the Sunday Express it was 'just like old times'.

They added: 'The Duchess is being treated as if she and the Duke were still married.'

The Queen has long been said to have remained fond of her former daughter-in-law. The Queen is said to think of her as a 'good mother'.

Civil: Sarah Ferguson, pictured with her two daughters Beatrice and Eugenie on holiday in St Tropez, France, separated from Prince Andrew in 1992 but they remained on good terms

Family: Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson pose with their daughter Beatrice following her graduation ceremony at Goldsmiths College in London in 2011

Talking point: The Duke and Duchess of York, pictured together in London in 2000, have both previously spoken about getting married again

But Prince Philip is said to be baffled by Fergie and Prince Andrew's relationship. The couple, who still live together, separated in 1992 but remained on good terms and brought up their daughters together. 

It has been claimed that Prince Philip has never forgiven the Duchess for the embarrassment she caused the Royal Family during the 90s - during which time she embarked on an affair with a Texan oil tycoon while pregnant with her second child and was photographed having her toes sucked by  her 'financial adviser'.

In 2010 she also was revealed to have tried to sell access to her former husband Prince Andrew for £500,000 to an undercover reporter as she tried desperately to pay off debts of £3million.

Joint effort: The Duchess of York, seen holding her second daughter Princess Eugenie in 1990, and Prince Andrew have raised their two daughters together

Close: The Queen, pictured next to Fergie at Princess Eugenie's christening at Sandringham in 1990, is said to remained fond of her daughter-in-law despite the scandals

Together again: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, pictured on their wedding day in 1986 at Westminster Abbey, have been living together at the Royal Lodge in Berkshire

Wedding bells: The Duke of York and Duchess of York, pictured on their wedding day in 1986, are said to be considering getting married for a second time

On good terms: Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, pictured on their wedding day on the balcony at Buckingham Palace, have remained close since their divorce

It has been reported that Prince Andrew, then a Special Trade Ambassador, helped her out of financial difficulty.

This is not the first time it has been suggested the pair may get married again.

In 2000 Fergie said during an interview that she and her former husband had talked of remarrying but that Prince Philip would not allow it.

And in 2009, Prince Andrew said he did not rule out remarrying the Duchess.

'Do we have to be married?' he asked. 'Well, let’s put it another way, I can neither confirm nor deny the possibility. We have two great children. We still look after them.'

Out hunting: Prince Edward and Princess Anne pictured with Commander Tim Lawrence on their way to The grouse Shoot near Balmoral today

Royal day out: Members of the royal family at a grouse shoot. Red grouse are unique to the uplands of Britain and are closely associated with heather moorland

On route: Prince Philip also attended the event near Balmoral where he is staying with the Queen

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2401660/Prince-Andrew-Sarah-Ferguson-17-years-divorce-amid-claims-thinking-marriage.html#ixzz2d0wns5JQ
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