Princess Charming! First Official Pictures of Baby Charlotte's Christening -
Taken by Diana's Favourite Photographer Mario Testino
- Taken by legendary fashion photographer Mario Testino, who famously shot Princess Diana's last official shoot
- William and Kate chose to release four photographs in all one formal family shot and three more intimate pictures
- Shows the Queen and three generations of royal successors - Prince Charles, Prince William and, of course, George
- Snaps were taken at Sandringham House, the Queen's private Norfolk residence
- Princess Charlotte was christened on Sunday at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in front of just 21 guests
Daily Mail UK, 9 July 2015
The first official pictures of baby Charlotte's christening - taken by Diana's favourite photographer Mario Testino - have been released. William and Kate chose to release four photographs in all.
One formal family shot (right) sees (back row, L-R) Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Edinburgh and (front row L-R) Prince William, Prince George, the Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and the Queen posing for Testino's lens. The couple also released three more intimate pictures of themselves with their children. One photograph shows Kate gazing lovingly at her daughter in the Drawing Room at Sandringham House (left), whilst another (inset left) shows William and George in the garden, the lively toddler laughing straight into the camera.
The photographs were taken by Testino in the gardens and Drawing Room at Sandringham House immediately following Princess Charlotte's baptism.
He stole the show with his high-spirited antics at Princess Charlotte's christening on Sunday.
But fortunately Prince George was on his best behaviour when it came to the official photographs of the occasion, which have just been released by Kensington Palace.
Taken by legendary fashion photographer Mario Testino, the images show the Queen and three generations of royal successors Prince Charles, Prince William and, of course, George at Sandringham House, her private Norfolk residence.
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The Duchess of Cambridge holds her daughter, whilst her husband, Prince William, places a protective arm around their son, who sits with his legs up on the seat.
Joining the family on the front row is the Queen, who looks resplendent in a pink coat, matching hat and floral dress.
Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of Edinburgh smile as they stand on the second row.
One notable absentee was Princess Charlotte's uncle, Prince Harry, who is enjoying a three-month stint in Africa to spend time working as a wildlife ranger.
The photographs were taken in the gardens and Drawing Room at Sandringham House immediately following Princess Charlotte's baptism.
Prince George plays with his hair as the family of four pose for their first official snap together - one of four that the royal couple chose to release from the special day
A cheeky Prince George grins as his father holds him in his arms in the candid black and white shot, left, whilst Kate shows her maternal side with her first daughter cradled in her arms, right
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their whole family had a wonderful day on Sunday and were delighted to share the special occasion with the thousands of people who came to Sandringham. They are very happy to share these photographs and hope that everyone enjoys them as much as they do.'
In the main family photograph, George can be seen cuddled up to his father on a sofa with Kate holding Charlotte and the Queen, in an old rose Angela Kelly dress, to her left.
The rest of the immediate family are standing behind them.
The second picture shows Kate gazing lovingly at her daughter in the Drawing Room at Sandringham House, whilst the third shows William and George in the garden, the lively toddler laughing straight into the camera.
The fourth picture shows the couple with their children enjoying the summer sun in the garden.
William and Kate arrived on foot, pushing fourth-in-line-to-the-throne Charlotte in an original 1950s Millson pram used by the Queen for her sons, Princes Andrew and Edward
Sandringham House in Norfolk has been the private home of four generations of Sovereigns since 1862.The main ground floor rooms, regularly used by the Royal Family, are also open to the public. The dιcor and contents remain very much as they were in Edwardian times.The Drawing Room has a musical theme to it with pictures of musical instruments on the ceiling and on the finger plates of the doors.
The room was described by Queen Victoria in her journal as 'a very long and handsome drawing room, with painted ceilings and panels with two fireplaces.'Italian craftsmen were brought to Sandringham to carve the intricate panelling on the walls and cornices, and to paint the trompe l'oeil ceiling panels.
The carved panelling derives from the French Louis XVI style of the late 18th Century. Its white marble fire-places, painted ceiling and pastel shades are typical of the Edwardian taste.The portraits set into the wall panelling in the background of the photograph were painted by Edward Hughes in 1896 and depict the two youngest daughters of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra Princesses Victoria and Maud.
The elaborately gilded glazed cabinets, parts of which can be seen in the background of the photographs, are thought to be Danish and contain silver gilt and Bohemian glass. Both Queen Alexandra and later Queen Mary were great collectors of objets d'art.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the newborn's christening on Sunday at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, Norfolk, England:
Commenting on his historic commission, Testino told the Mail: 'Photographing Princess Charlotte's christening was an amazing experience. What impressed me the most was the energy of the family, and of that between the Duke and Duchess.
One sees how solid they are together and one gets a sense of their strong family values. 'It was incredible to be able to document four generations of the British Royal Family together the monarch and three heirs to the throne and very heart-warming to see the close relationship between them all.'
'I am overwhelmed and honoured to be chosen to document this occasion and to carry on the documentation of the family that is the soul of this country, a country that has given me.'
Although one of the most highly regarded men in his field, Testino was a surprise choice for such an auspicious and formal occasion, although he has long been a private favourite of the Royal Family.
He famously shot Princess Diana's last playful and iconic fashion shoot for Vanity Fair magazine just two months before she died, and counted her as a personal friend.
In recent years he has also photographed Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry, playfully capturing the two brothers relaxed and dressed in just jeans and white shirts.
He also took the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's official engagement portrait, another remarkably informal picture by royal standards, showing the couple smiling and hugging with Diana's famous engagement ring on show.
The 60-year-old Peruvian, who is a major anglophile, flew up to the monarch's private country estate by helicopter on Sunday to capture the images, according to one well-placed royal source, to set up the shoot.
The service was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby, and the local rector, the Reverend Jonathan Riviere. Little George kept crowds entertained and was seen chatting to his great-grandmother, the Queen
The christening itself took place at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, just a few minutes' walk from the main house, at 4.30pm.
There were just 21 guests, including two-month-old Charlotte, her five godparents, the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as grandparents Michael and Carole Middleton and Kate's siblings Pippa and James.
The service was officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev Justin Welby, and the local rector, the Reverend Jonathan Riviere.
William and Kate arrived on foot, pushing fourth-in-line-to-the-throne Charlotte in an original 1950s Millson pram used by the Queen for her sons, Princes Andrew and Edward.
William held his lively son, who will turn two later this month, by the hand.
George, wearing an £85 Rachel Riley outfit comprised of red shorts and a smocked shirt, entertained the 3,500-strong crowd with his antics, adorably peeping into his sister's pram and attempting to run off into the churchyard.
As royal christenings go, it was a relatively casual affair and the entire party, excluding the Queen and Prince Philip, walked back to the main house for tea and a slice of christening cake a tier of William and Kate's wedding cake cheered by onlookers.
Charlotte's godparents were named as two cousins from both sides of the family Michael Middleton's nephew, Adam Middleton and Diana's niece Laura Fellowes as well as three close friends, James Meade, Thomas van Straubenzee and Sophie Carter.
George, wearing an £85 Rachel Riley outfit comprised of red shorts and a smocked shirt, left, entertained the 3,500-strong crowd with his antics, adorably peeping into his sister's pram, right, and attempting to run off into the churchyard