The Queen speaks with Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge as they arrive with Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace. THE future heir to the throne Prince George was christened today with water from the Jordan River in a once-in-a-lifetime ceremony involving four generations of future heirs. Wearing a replica of an intricate lace and satin gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and first used in 1841, Prince George was formally baptised in a private low-key ceremony that again broke conventions and royal norms. Catherine looked relaxed and wore a cream Alexander McQueen outfit and a matching hat by milliner Jane Taylor. Even up to the eve of the event, it was still not known who from the royal family would be attending; with the only aspect known that the Queen had personally sanctioned a request from George's parents William and Kate that the event be private and the attendees list slimmed down. On a glorious unseasonally warm and sunny Autumn day in London, the ceremony began at the Chapel Royal at the King Henry VIII built St James Palace shortly after 3pm local time. The use of the Palace, the official seat of the sovereign for more than 300 years, is itself a break from royal tradition with christenings usually held at Buckingham Palace. But so too William and Kate's choice of seven godparents announced on the day as school and university friends of the couple. For the lowkey ceremony, Prince George wore a replica of a lace and sating gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and first used in 1841. They were Oliver Baker, a friend from St. Andrews University; Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the exclusive Marlborough College with Kate; Hugh Grosvenor, who is the son of the Duke of Westminster; Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former private secretary to the couple and Prince Harry; Julia Samuel, described as a close friend of the late Princess Diana; Zara Phillips, William's pregnant cousin; and William van Cutsem, a childhood friend of William. The family also dispensed with the traditional mass christening affair with all the cousins and uncles and aunties preferring instead to have immediate family, the grandparents Charles and Camilla and Michael and Carole Middleton, their children James and Pippa, Prince Harry and the Queen and Prince Philip. There were also close friends of William and Kate. A total of 22 guests in all including the Queen, who received the royal salute from the St James" Palace detachment of "The Queen's Guard" on her arrival at the Colour Court of the palace. One of the few traditional aspects was the water used from the River Jordan, the river where Jesus Christ was baptised and often used to baptise royal infants. Crowds had gathered near the roadway gates of St James" Palace for up to 24 ours before the event, braving at times torrential overnight rain, in the hope of a peek at the future heir to the throne. This is despite the palace making it clear there would be no public appearance sans royal guests zipping through the large black paneled palace gates in their cars. To this point, Prince George has been kept away from the public with even the first "at home" photos taken not by a royal photographer but by Catherine's father. That was by design by the royal couple wanting to have the first photos as a more intimate image taken by a relative. For the christening they have on hand celebrity photographer Jason Bell, accustomed to photographing the rich and famous. The mood was very light in the Chapel Royal, presided over by the head of the Church of England Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, with guests chatting excitedly ahead of the ceremony. Prince Harry and Pippa Middleton both gave readings at the christening. The first lesson from the Gospel of St Luke, Ch 18, verses 15-17, was read by Pippa, the second from St John's gospel, chapter 15, verses 1-5, was read by Prince Harry. William and Kate chose the two hymns, two lessons and two anthems for the service. The two anthems performed at the service by the Choir of Her Majesty's Chapel Royal, including Blessed Jesu! Here we Stand, which was written for William's own baptism on August 4 1982. The choir, partly made up of children, also performed at the Queen's golden and diamond jubilees. The 30-minute long ceremony made use of the ornate baptisimal Lily Font, made for the christening of Queen Victoria's eldest child Victoria. Justin Welby welcomed the three-month-old baby into the Church of England, ironically the church he is one day destined to lead as King George VII. There was no tears from baby George when he went in and none when he came out but its not known what happened when the water was poured on his forehead. The low key ceremony is a signpost to how William and Kate want to raise their family and how closely they will guard the privacy of George, who before today had not been seen in public since leaving hospital in the glare of hundreds of cameras from media from around the world after his birth on July 22. The money shot however was the extremely rare image of four future monarchs together in Princes George, William and Charles together with the Queen. It is the first time a reigning monarch and three future monarchs have been together since 1894. At that time, future king Edward VII was christened with his father George V, Edward VII and great-grandmother Queen Victoria. The image of the latest four generations is not expected to be made public until later today but is already being touted as potentially one of the most popular and biggest selling images since the wedding of William and Kate. In the House of Commons, British Prime Minister David Cameron urged lawmakers to "join me in celebrating" the event. Royal insiders said the event reinforced the message of the royal family's durability and continued dynasty for the future.