Princess Charlotte is christened

Kensington Palace has thanked the thousands of well-wishers who flocked to Sandringham to celebrate Princess Charlotte’s christening.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen five godparents for the princess.

Prince George and his parents were making their first public appearance as a family of four at the christening, which came two months after Princess Charlotte’s birth on 2 May. He was sporting a darling outfit that was a near-perfect replica of the one Prince William wore when he was little.

Pippa Middleton arrives for the christening of Princess Charlotte at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Britain July 5, 2015.

From then on, it was a classically stage-managed royal occasion.

They were joined by just 20 people, excluding the organist and choir.

21 guests attended the religious ceremony, including the Queen and her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Middleton family, Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

In his homily the Archbishop referred to one of Princess Charlotte’s ancestors, the Grand Duchess Elizabeth, who was sainted and buried in the Holy Land after being murdered by the Bolsheviks in Russian Federation in 1918. George’s nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo – in her Norland uniform – was also on hand to help out.

Following royal tradition, holy water from the River Jordan, where it is said Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, was used for the baptism.

Princess Charlotte, meanwhile, donned a custom Honiton lace and white satin gown designed by dressmaker to the Queen, Andrea Kelly.

After the service, the group will be returning to the Queen’s Sandringham home for official portraits (to be taken by Mario Testino) and an afternoon tea, where slices from a tier of William and Kate’s wedding cake will be served.