Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

The water was from the River Jordan. The gold font had been conveyed from Windsor Castle. The royal organist and choir boys donned their crimson and gold robes at St. James's Palace before hastening over. The Most Reverend Cosmo Gordon Lang, Prelate of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Primate of England, Archbishop of York, stood with uplifted finger. The scene was the private chapel of Buckingham Palace, Present were the King, the Queen, Edward of Wales, Princess Mary, the Duke and Duchess of York, many another and an unchristened babe.

The Archbishop's finger inscribed the sign of the cross in Holy Water upon the brow of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, infant daughter of the Duke of York, only granddaughter of George V, Rex et Imperator. Above her royal head the Archbishop intoned the significance of the moist cross which he had just made "in token that hereafter she shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified."

"Praise the Lord. Ye Heavens, adore Him," sang the assembled august company as the christening came to an end. Heavy with the awful responsibilities incurred through being christened, the royal babe was borne away. Like many a cotter's offspring in similar circumstances, she was unabashed.