Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, will present their three-month-old son to the world this week at his christening, which will take place at a private ceremony at St. James’s Palace, followed by a gathering organised by his royal grandparents.
While Kensington Palace won’t release a guest list or details of the event until the day, sources have toldUS Weeklythat “close members of both families” are expected to attend, including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, and Carole and Michael Middleton, along with the Duchess’s siblings, Pippa and James.
The guest list, which numbers fewer than 50 people, will include the midwives who helped deliver George, and Prince Harry’s girlfriend, Cressida Bonas.
The 45-minute ceremony is to take place on Wednesday at 3pm (1 am Thursday Australian time) and will be conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby.
“They have to follow a pretty tight schedule, so if George is crying, the show must go on, as they say,” the source said.
After the short ceremony, family and friends have been invited to Clarence House for a reception hosted by Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
At the gathering, William and Catherine will present the top tier of their wedding cake, which they saved for this special day and will have a small champagne reception.
The pair has asked that instead of gifts, donations are made to local children’s charities.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are incredibly grateful for the support and goodwill being expressed at this happy time. Their Royal Highnesses are grateful, too, for the many gifts they have already received,” the palace says.
“To harness this extraordinary generosity of spirit, they suggest people might at this time look to support those more in need; perhaps a children’s charity local to them,” the palace continues.
“Alternatively, you could look to support Imperial College Healthcare Charity, which is the charity of the hospital where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s baby was born.”
The official portraits taken on the day will be released on Thursday, October. 24.
Related video: Aunts snubbed for Prince George Christening.
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