Royal Christening in Britain

Members of the British royal family met at St. James's Palace in London for the christening of the House of Windsor's newest prince, Louis of Cambridge. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children, Prince George of
Cambridge, Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, and
Prince Louis of Cambridge.

The baptism of Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge into the Church of England took place on July 9 at the Chapel Royal of St. James's Palace, the same venue where his elder brother, Prince George, was christened in 2013. The prince's parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, culled from their circle of friends and family to appoint their son's six godparents. They are Nicholas van Cutsem, a close friend of the Prince of Wales and Princes William and Harry (Nicholas's daughter, Florence, was one of the bridesmaids at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex two months ago); Harry Aubrey Fletcher; Lady Laura Meade; Hannah Gillingham Carter; and Lucy Middleton, a first cousin of the Duchess of Cambridge. The selection of Louis's godparents continues with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's decision to appoint godparents for their children from outside the royal family and outside of European royalty. 

Prince Louis's paternal grandfather, the Prince of Wales, and
step-grandmother, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Louis's christening was an admittedly smaller affair than the christenings of his siblings, George and Charlotte. The only attendees were his parents and his siblings; his paternal uncle and aunt, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex; his paternal grandfather and step-grandmother, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall; his maternal grandparents, Michael and Carole Middleton; his maternal aunt and uncle, Philippa and James Matthews; his maternal uncle, James Middleton; and his six godparents. None of the extended members of the Windsor clan attended, and the most notable absentees were Louis's great-grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. Reportedly, the royal couple's advancing age and health was a factor in their absence. This week alone will be a busy one for the 92-year-old monarch, who attended commemorations for the 100th anniversary of the Royal Air Force on July 10 and will meet privately for the first time with US President Donald Trump on Friday. 

Princess Charlotte of Cambridge provided some comic relief among the formalities, as she hilariously told photographers "You're not coming" shortly before entering the chapel with her parents. 

Prince Louis's newlywed uncle and aunt, the Duke and
Duchess of Sussex