Intimate Christening for Prince George



Wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Chapel Royal

Once again the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are abandoning tradition and doing things their way. Normally, a future King’s Christening is held in the large Music Room at Buckingham Palace. The christening of Prince George will be taking place in the much more intimate Chapel Royal in St. James Palace. The christening will be held on October 23^rd. Until recently, William and Harry’s offices were run out of St. James Palace. The Chapel Royal is special to William, as it was the place where his mother Princess Diana’s coffin lay before her funeral at Westminster Abbey. It was also the Duchess of Cambridge had her formal confirmation into the Church of England in April 2011, before her marriage to Prince William.

Originally the term Chapel Royal referred to a body of priests and singers who served the spiritual needs of the Sovereign. It now refers to the buildings where the monarch worships. The two main Chapels Royal are both located in St. James Palace, the Chapel Royal and the Queen’s Chapel.

Henry VIII built it in 1540 after his fourth marriage to Anne of Cleves. The Chapel has been a witness to much history. Elizabeth I chose to pray here during the Spanish Armada. George Frederick Handel was an organist here. He was appointed by George II as "Composer of Musick of His Majesty’s Chappel Royal" in 1723. Prince George’s great, great, great, grandmother, Queen Victoria was married in 1840 to Prince Albert. Their marriage certificate still hangs in the chapel’s vestry.

I remember walking into the Queen’s Chapel which, is connected to St. James Palace on my first visit to London. It was exceptionally dark and filled with dark wood. St. James Palace is still a working palace even thought it is not mentioned much. Before the Queen Mother died and left him nearby Clarence House, this was the London home of Prince Charles and his sons, William and Harry. It is currently the London home of the Princess Royal, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie of York.


St. James Palace, London