When Prince Louis was christened Monday in the Chapel Royal at St. James' Palace in London, he wore a 10-year-old gown with a centuries-spanning royal history. Louis' gown is a near-exact replica of the garment that was first worn in 1841 by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Princess Victoria. Inspired by the design of Victoria's wedding dress and believed to have been made of the same silk and lace, the garment was worn by 62 royal babies at their christenings over the next 163 years, including Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. After the christening of Lady Louise Windsor in 2004, the original gown was deemed too fragile, and in 2008, Queen Elizabeth II's dresser, Angela Kelly, and Buckingham Palace's team of dressmakers created a new garment for future royal christenings. The first baby to wear the new gown was James, Lady Louise's younger brother, in 2008. Since then, it's been worn by Louis' siblings, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, as well as other royal offspring. Prince Louis' christening:Will, Kate, George and Charlotte, plus Harry and Meghan, lead celebration What Meghan wore:Duchess Meghan wears olive Ralph Lauren dress to baptism of Prince Louis Prince Louis' christening was the first time the public has seen the Cambridge family of five together since the baby's birth on April 23. Louis is the sixth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, and fifth in line to the throne. Baptized with the full name of Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge, he was celebrated in a private ceremony in the same small chapel whereGeorge was christened in October 2013. Alongside Louis' parents, Prince William and Duchess Kate, were his grandfather, Prince Charles, and his wife, Duchess Camilla of Cornwall; his uncle Prince Harry and wife Duchess Meghan of Sussex; his maternal grandparents, Carole and Michael Middleton; his aunt Pippa Middleton Matthews and her husband, James Matthews; and uncle James Middleton.<doc-sep>Britain’s Prince Louis, the baby son of Prince William and his wife Kate, is due to be christened at a private ceremony at St James’s Palace in London on Monday. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual leader of the world’s Anglicans, will lead the service at the Chapel Royal with close friends and family in attendance. ADVERTISEMENT Welby, who will baptize the baby by pouring holy water from the River Jordan over his head, said the event would be “very nerve-wracking” but “a great privilege”. Louis is the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and is fifth in the line of succession to the British throne after his grandfather Prince Charles, his father William and his siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte. He is also one of Queen Elizabeth II’s seven great-grandchildren. The service is due to start at 1500 GMT and last 40 minutes, while the list of godparents is expected later on Monday. The 16th-century chapel, which is not accessible to the public, is where Louis’ four-year-old big brother George was christened in 2013. Charlotte, who is three, was christened in 2015 at the 16th-century Church of St Mary Magdalene on the queen’s country estate in Sandringham in eastern England. Louis was born on April 24 — St. George’s Day, England’s national day — at St Mary’s hospital in central London weighing eight pounds and seven ounces (3.8 kilograms). Royal fanatics, who had been camped outside the hospital wing for several days in anticipation, jumped for joy and popped open champagne as the news of his birth was announced. Tony Appleton, a town-crier dressed in a flamboyant red uniform, announced the news from the steps of the hospital to a crowd of supporters and media. The birth was also announced on the display screen atop the 189-meter (620 feet) BT Tower in London, with the message “It’s a boy!” /vvp Read Next<doc-sep>Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor will be christened today in Windsor, where the Palace confirmed that he will wear the same gown that his cousins George, Charlotte, and Louis wore to their baptisms. But of course since this dress belongs to the British royal family, its history goes back much farther than that. Known as the Honiton christening gown, the garment that Archie is wearing is actually a replica of the dress that Queen Victoria commissioned for her first-born child, her daughter Victoria Adelaide Mary Louisa. Little Princess Victoria was baptized in 1841 in Buckingham Palace, on her parents' first wedding anniversary. An engraving of Princess Victoria's baptism at Buckingham Palace in 1841. Getty Images The gown had been inspired by Queen Victoria's own wedding dress, and was made from white silk with a handmade lace overlay. Janet Sutherland, a miner's daughter from Falkirk, Scotland, made the lace. Queen Victoria later noted in her journal that "Albert & I agreed that all had gone off beautifully & in a very dignified manner." The dress was worn by 62 royal babies over the course of its 163 years of royal service. Five monarchs have been baptized in the gown, beginning with Victoria and Albert's first son, the future Edward VII. George V, Edward VIII, George VI and the Queen all wore the white lace dress, as did Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry. Queen Victoria and the future King Edward VIII: Queen Victoria poses with her son Bertie, who became Edward VII; her grandson, the future George V; and her great grandson, who would later be King Edward VIII, on his christening day in 1894. Getty Images Queen Elizabeth at her Christening in 1926: Baby Princess Elizabeth with her parents the Duke and Duchess of York. Getty Images Prince Charles's Christening in 1948: Prince Charles at his christening with his mother, Princess Elizabeth, his grandfather, George VI, and his great grandmother, Queen Mary. Getty Images Prince Harry's Christening in 1984: Baby Prince Harry held by his mother Princess Diana and surrounded by his great grandmother, the Queen mother; his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and his father, the Prince of Wales. Getty Images Princess Eugenie's Christening in 1990: Sarah Fergueson, the Duchess of York holds baby Princess Eugenie. Prince Andrew, Zara Phillips, and Prince Harry are nearby. Getty Images The gown was cared for carefully over the years—protocol dictated that it be hand-washed with spring water after each ceremony, before being stored in a dark room. The last royal to wear the original gown was Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex's daughter, in 2004. The Queen apparently decided then that the gown had earned its retirement, and asked her personal wardrobe advisor, Angela Kelly, to help make a replica. Kelly worked closely with craftsmen in both Britain and Italy to get as close as possible to the original. (The team apparently set aside enough material for another gown, should they need a backup or perhaps one for a royal twin.) The first to wear the new gown was James, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise's younger brother, who was baptized in 2008. Since then, it's been worn by Savanna and Isla Philips, Lord Frederick Windsor’s daughter Maud (who goes to school with George), Zara Tindall's daughters Lena and Mia, and of course Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince George at his christening in 2013. Getty Images Elizabeth Angell Digital Director Elizabeth Angell is the Executive Editor, Digital for Town & Country, where she writes about the British Royal Family, the Kennedys, Ivy League shenanigans, superstars of interior design, and trends in style, beauty, and home. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io<doc-sep>Prince Louis will today become the eighth royal baby to be christened in the Honiton lace and white satin gown first used at the christening of James, Viscount Severn in 2008. The frilly cream outfit is a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter that was used for all royal baptisms until Lady Louise Windsor's in 2004. Along with Viscount Severn, Louis older siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte both wore the gown, as did Lord Frederick Windsor’s daughter Maud and Zara Tindall's little girl, Mia. It was created by the Queen’s dresser Angela Kelly, and features the same lengthy skirt and elaborate collars and bow as its predecessor. The original robe, made in 1841, was worn by the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry among others, and has now been carefully preserved. According to tradition, the water used for Louis’s christening in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace this afternoon will be holy water from the River Jordan, where it is said Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. Proud mum Kate cradles her first child, Prince George, wearing the Honiton robe on his christening day in 2013. George's baby brother Louis will wear the same robe today Like his big brother and sister before him, Prince Louis will be dressed in the Honiton robe for his christening today The ornate silver gilt Lily Font – part of the Crown Jewels - will also form part of the proceedings. Baptisms are a must for Windsor babies thanks to the Queen's role as Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England. Royal infants are often welcomed into the Christian faith within weeks of being born - in Louis' case, the ceremony comes just over two months after his arrival on 23rd April. Prince George was a little older and was three-months-old when he was christened, while William was baptised on August 4 1982 at the age of six weeks. The Prince of Wales was one month and one day old at his own christening. The Queen was just five weeks old when she was christened. Beautiful: The Duchess of Cambridge carrying Princess Charlotte into the church in the gown at her christening in July 2015 Looking good: Prince George wearing the christening gown at his baptism in October 2013 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are seen outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital on April 23, following the birth of their third child, Prince Louis, who will be christened today at St James's Palace in London Prince Louis' christening service will take place in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace at 4pm. Guests at the small private ceremony will be the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Kate's parents Carol and Michael Middleton, and her siblings James and Pippa, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Louis' godparents and their respective spouses. The Queen and Prince Philip will not attend, at the start of a busy week for the monarch, 92, with events to mark the RAF centenary and a visit from the US president Donald Trump. The 97-year-old Duke of Edinburgh has kept a low profile since retiring from royal duties last year. Kensington Palace announced today the names of the six members of Kate and William's inner circle selected to be godparents to their son; the Lady Laura Meade, Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, Nicholas Van Cutsem, Guy Pelly, Kate's pal Hannah Carter - an old classmate from Marlborough College, and the Duchess' cousin Lucy Middleton. After the short ceremony, the guests will head to Clarence House for a private tea hosted by Kate and William, where they will enjoy slices of the couple's wedding cake saved from their nuptials in 2011. WHO ARE PRINCE LOUIS' GODPARENTS? THE LADY LAURA MEADE Lady Laura Meade is the wife of James Meade, another Old Etonian and fast friend of Wills', who was asked to make a speech at the royal wedding and is godfather to Louis' big sister, Princess Charlotte. William was again asked to be an usher when Laura and James tied the knot in 2013, and Kate, Prince Harry and Kate's younger sister Pippa were all among the congregation. Laura, from Norfolk, is the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Romney, and she and her siblings are close to the Middletons as well as the Prince. Before they married and settled down, Kate and William and Laura and James were regulars at the Cuckoo Club in Piccadilly. HARRY AUBREY-FLETCHER Prince Louis’ godfather Harry Aubrey-Fletcher is one of William's oldest friends, having attended both Ludgrove prep school and Eton with the Prince. Kate joined William at Harry's wedding to Louise Stourton in January 2011, just four months before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s own nuptials. Prince William was an usher at the ceremony, held at Aldborough Parish Church in Boroughbridge, West Yorkshire. Harry is the youngest son of Sir Henry Aubrey-Fletcher, 8th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. His similarly blue-blooded wife, who will also attend Prince Louis' christening, is the eldest daughter of Edward Stourton, the 24th Baron Stourton, 28th Baron Segrave, 27th Baron Mowbray. NICHOLAS VAN CUTSEM Major Nicholas van Cutsem has been firm friends of the Prince of Wales and his sons for years. His daughter, Grace, stole the show at the 2011 Royal wedding when she covered her ears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Nicholas serves with the Household Cavalry and led the escort accompanying the Prince’s Royal Wedding carriage. He is married to Alice van Cutsem, with the pair wedded in 2009. GUY PELLY Mr Pelly has been in part of Harry and William's inner circle since their teenage years. He is known for running celebrity nightclub, Tonteria, in Chelsea, South-West London, a favourite old haunt of Harry during his partying years. The entrepreneur has also been involved with Mahiki, Whisky Mist and Public over the years. He welcomed his first child, a little girl Willow Elizabeth, with his Holiday Inn heiress wife Lizzy Wilson last summer.<doc-sep>
The royal baby star of the show has arrived, cradled in the arms of his mum, Duchess Kate of Cambridge. The christening of the third royal Cambridge heir, Prince Louis, was underway Monday in the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London as adoring members of his Windsor and Middleton families looked on, but without his nonagenarian great-grandparents. It was the world's first glimpse of the baby prince — the sixth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — in public since he was born on April 23. The date was special to the queen: July 9, 1947, was the day her engagement to Prince Philip was announced. But the two were not at the ceremony. The queen, 92, had spent a busy week in Scotland and was traveling to London to face another full week including major ceremonies on Tuesday and a meeting with President Donald Trump on Friday. Prince Philip, 97, has retired from public duties and is not often seen in public anymore. The new fifth in line to the throne was baptized an Anglican with the full name of Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge in a private ceremony in the same small chapel where his brother, Prince George of Cambridge, was christened in October 2013. As usual, the christening was an intimate affair. Present were the baby's parents, Prince William and Kate, and his grandfather, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Duchess Camilla of Cornwall. Uncle Prince Harry and his bride, Duchess Meghan of Sussex, were there, plus his maternal grandparents, Carole and Michael Middleton, aunt Pippa Middleton Matthews and her husband, James Matthews, and uncle James Middleton. More: Duchess Meghan stuns in custom olive Ralph Lauren dress at Louis' baptism Pippa Middleton, who is expecting her first baby in the fall, was among the first of the guests to arrive at the chapel. She was followed by her parents and brother, and by some of the godparents and their spouses. Cutest expected participants: Brother George, third in line to the throne, who turns 5 on July 22, and sister Charlotte, 3, the fourth in line. It was the first look at the Cambridge family of five in public since the baby's birth. Charlotte was dressed in one of her signature smock dresses in blue and white, while George wore dark shorts and a white shirt. Kate was in a creamy Alexander McQueen dress with a V-neck, plus a Jane Taylor hat. Louis was dressed in the royal christening gown, a replica of the 1841 original retired 10 years ago. Also on the guest list were the six godparents, announced by Kensington Palace on Monday morning. They included old school friends and a Middleton cousin. Nicholas van Cutsem, one of William and Harry's oldest friends; Guy Pelly, another chum who married an American in Memphis in a 2014 wedding attended by William and Harry; Harry Aubrey-Fletcher, another old friend of William's; Lady Laura Meade, the daughter of an earl who married one of William's closest friends from Eton, James Meade, who is a godparent to Princess Charlotte; Hannah Carter, an old school friend of Kate's and sister-in-law to one of Princess Charlotte's godparents; and Lucy Middleton, Kate's cousin, whose brother, Adam Middleton, is a godparent to Princess Charlotte. Royal children typically get multiple godparents: Charles has eight, William has six and George has seven. After the 40-minute ceremony, the families went to Clarence House for a tea party, where guests were to be served slices of the traditional christening treat: a tier taken from Will and Kate's 2011 wedding cake. They also were scheduled to pose for the official christening photograph, taken by prominent portrait photographer Matt Holyoak, who also took the official photograph of the queen and Prince Philip in 2017 to mark their 70th wedding anniversary. The christening photo will be released in coming days, the palace said. The service, conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, featured all of the usual trappings of a royal christening, including the silver baptismal Lily Font, water taken from the River Jordan, singing by the Royal Chapel choir, and the baby clad in a handmade replica of the Victorian-era royal christening gown of Honiton lace lined with white satin. Prince Louis christening: Baby wears10-year-old gown with a royal history "I’m delighted and privileged to be christening Prince Louis today – a precious child made in God’s image, just as we all are.