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
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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.
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