Chubby Prince George shown off at royal christening

LONDON (AFP) ― Britain’s baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony on Wednesday, with his proud parents Prince William and Catherine giving the world a rare glimpse of the chubby three-month-old boy.

Wearing a frilly cream lace gown, the third in line to the throne was carried into the Chapel Royal of St James’s palace by his father, his mother Kate close by, elegant in a cream Alexander McQueen outfit.

Queen Elizabeth II and the couple’s parents and siblings, including William’s younger brother Prince Harry, were among just 22 guests at the ceremony, including seven newly-named godparents.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the world’s Anglicans, performed the baptism, which involves pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the baby’s head.

Television pictures showed the light-haired George Alexander Louis appearing wide awake and calm. He even gave the semblance of waving at the 87-year-old queen, his great-grandmother, when his father moved his arm up and down.

“He’s all ready,” William, 31, told the assembled party, which included the baby’s grandfather Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, adding: “So far so good.”

Photographs of the gurgling prince were splashed across Britain’s Thursday newspapers, which were charmed by his serene performance.

The Sun ran the headline “Georgeous ― Prince is good as gold on big day,” while the Daily Telegraph carried a front-page photograph of him in his mother’s arms under the words “the perfect prince.”

Inside, the Telegraph said the baby showed “regal calm,” while the Daily Mail and Times both released souvenir editions celebrating “Gorgeous George”.

The low-key ceremony reflects the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their son to have a relatively normal upbringing and have closely guarded his privacy. He has only appeared in public once before, when they left hospital after his birth on July 22.