The Christening

In a semicircle of chairs, amid banked roses, heather and myrtle in the Palace music room, sat the family, a handful of old retainers, a sprinkling of ladies and gentlemen in waiting, and the godparents. Resplendent in gold cope and miter before a silver-gilt font, the Archbishop of Canterbury reached out gingerly to take the baby, swathed in four yards of silk and Honiton lace.

"Name this child," he said. Princess Margaret answered firmly and clearly, "Charles Philip Arthur George." "I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost," said the Archbishop, dabbing water from the font on the baby's brow. Young Prince Charles gurgled demurely, and ten well-scrubbed choirboys in Tudor uniforms of scarlet and gold sang out O Worship the King. Afterwards there was tea and christening cake, and everyone drank the baby's health in champagne.

Royal Displeasure. The whole Palace was in fine fettle. Throughout the ceremony King George rested his ailing foot on a cushion, but he limped not at all, exchanged jokes on all sides and refused to sit down during the official picture taking. Old Mrs. Bill, who had been the palace housekeeper when George himself was a baby, bussed the King enthusiastically on the cheek and he returned the greeting in kind.

Princess Margaret was happy as a grig in her new role as chief godparent,* and Princess Elizabeth herself, rosy-cheeked and radiant once more, was only a little shy about her new motherhood. She proudly displayed a new gold, sapphire and ruby clip presented her by Philip in honor of the occasion. Only Prince Charles himself showed any displeasure at the proceedings. When the photographers turned their battery of lights full in his face, he bawled hugely and had to be pacified by a Georgian silver rattle which was appropriately produced by a well-accoutered cameraman.

Like the baptism, the choice of the prince's name was a purely family affair. Notably missing was the ubiquitous "Albert" which Victoria had insisted upon in the names of her sons and grandsons. Gone were the names of the patron saints of Ireland, Scotland and Wales borne by the last Prince of Wales, Edward VIII.

Charlie's Aunt. The baby's first name "Charles" was picked by Philip and Elizabeth partly for its Scottish associations (although the Stuarts first got it from their French relatives), partly because it was borne by many of Philip's Danish ancestors, and mostly because the young parents just liked it. King George, whose final approval was necessary, gave it without a moment's hesitation, and London's papers promptly dubbed the new heir "Bonnie Prince Charlie."

In any case, the baby would probably ascend the throne as George VII (the present King was known as Albert when he was a prince). Ebullient Princess Margaret pointed out the only possible drawback to the new name. "Now," she said, "I suppose they'll call me Charlie's Aunt."

* The others: King George, Queen Mary, the dowager Marchioness of Milford Haven, Lady Brabourne (Philip's first cousin and daughter of Earl Mountbatten), David Bowes-Lyon (the Queen's brother), King Haakon of Norway and Prince George of Greece.

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