It's Prince George's day! Royal family and godparents arrive at St James' Palace for christening of Kate and William's baby son

Prince George and his parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have arrived at St James Palace for the christening of the future king.
Outside St James's Palace crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the heir the throne, his mother and father, and the handful of royals attending the baptism described as an 'intimate family affair'.
Only five senior royals, the Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry will see the heir to the throne baptised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, in the little known Chapel Royal this afternoon.

Sweet child: The public got the chance to see three-month-old Prince George as he was taken into St James Palace for his christening today

Smiling and happy: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge grinned at their family as they held their young prince

Kate's family - parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James - are also invited, along with the godparents, who have also been announced.
It came as the Cambridges revealed they have chosen old friends and only one royal, Zara Tindall, to be godparents to three-month-old George.
Meanwhile royal well-wishers have spent a rain-soaked night outside St James's Palace but thankfully the dark clouds, which had threatened to taint the big day during the morning, cleared just in time.

Tourists and royal-watchers stood five-people deep against the railings in an autumnal St James's Park, as the sun shone down on Pall Mall.
Many of the fans, draped in Union Flags, have returned to London three months after spending weeks sleeping outside the Lindo Wing in Paddington where the heir to the throne was born on July 22. 

Prince George's day: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and future king Prince George in his car seat head off to the christening this afternoon

Special occasion: Beaming parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, leave for the christening on a significant day for them and their son Prince George

Proud parents: Kate sat next to their three-month-old child while they couple were swept to St James Palace this afternoon

Royal arrival: Prince Charles is driven to the christening of his first grandchild Prince George at St James's Palace in London this afternoon

Proud uncle and godmother: Prince Harry, left, followed by a smiling Mike Tindell and his wife Zara, head to join other guests at the baptism to be carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury

Break in the clouds: After standing in wet, windy conditions crowds gathered in the Autumn sunshine at St James Palace to see the future king

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George arrived at St James's Palace in a dark blue Jaguar, at 2.30pm.
Kate wore a white jacket and large white fascinator - or hatinator - with her hair in a partial up-do.
She smiled broadly to the crowds from the back seat, while Prince William, who wore a suit with a white shirt and pale blue tie, sat in the front.
As they pulled into the grounds, Kate appeared distracted and bent down to her right, as if she was tending to baby George.
Prince Charles was driven into the palace at 12.30am in a black Range Rover to much applause, followed by Prince Harry at 2pm.

Harry gave a small smile to the crowds as he was escorted through the gates in a green Land Rover Discovery.

Enthusiasts: Royal Fans, many of whom have slept outside overnight, have returned to London three months after Prince George's birth so they can celebrate his christening today

Waking up on the big day: Royal fan Terry Hut and friends waits outside St James's Palace hours before the is third in line to the throne will be christened

Braving the wind and rain: Royal fans wait outside the chapel of St James overnight, ready for the christening of Prince George and hopefully a glimpse of the future king

Royal supporters: Well-wishers (left to right) Terry Hutt, Julie Cain, Marie Scott and John Loughrey brave the bad weather as they set up camp up outside the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace in London ahead of the christening of Prince George today

Here to celebrate: Royal Fan John Loughrey with Anne Daley and her dog Camilla stand and wait yards from where the heir to the throne will be christened

Personal touch: Terry Hutt displays his warm card and its message for the future king to the cameras this morning  

The Cambridges have broken from royal tradition by not having their son christened at Buckingham Palace, and in a further step away from protocol they have left off the majority of Her Majesty's children and grandchildren.

ROYAL GUEST LIST REVEALED: WHO WILL SEE BABY GEORGE BAPTISED

Family:
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh
The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry
Michael, Carole, James and Pippa Middleton
Prince George’s Godparents:
Oliver Baker - friend from university
Emilia Jardine-Paterson - School friend of Kate 
Earl Hugh Grosvenor
Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton - Past Private Secretary to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Julia Samuel - Close friend of Princess Diana
Zara Tindall - The Duke of Cambridge’s cousin)
William van Cutsem - childhood friend of William

William's aunts, Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, have been left off the guest list, and George’s great-uncles, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, are also not attending the hugely anticipated event.
Prince George will wear the hand made replica of the Royal Christening Robe, made by Angela Kelly, Dressmaker to The Queen.
The Lily Font and water from the River Jordan will be used during the baptism.
Following the service, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will give a private tea in Clarence House. Guests will be served slices of christening cake, which is a tier taken from The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding cake. 
There has been speculation about who the Cambridges might choose to be their son's mentors.
Now it has been announced that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen old friends rather than other royals and dignitaries to be godparents to three-month-old Prince George, it was announced today.
Prince William's cousin Zara Tindall, Kate's old schoolfriend Emilia Jardine-Paterson, and family friend William van Cutsem have all been asked to take on the role.
The other godparents are the couple's university friend Oliver Baker, William and Harry's Private Secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the Duke of Westminster's son Hugh Grosvenor, and Julia Samuel, an old friend of Princess Diana's.
The seven godparents, announced this morning, show how the Cambridges have dispensed with the tradition of picking other royals and foreign dignitaries, choosing instead close friends to guide their first-born son.
The Most Rev Justin Welby, who has already spoken of the 'great privilege and honour' of baptising George, said today he hoped that others will be inspired to seek the same ceremony for themselves and their children.
He added: 'As a nation we're celebrating the birth of someone who in due course will be the head of state.
'That's extraordinary. It gives you this sense of forward looking, of the forwardness of history as well as the backwardness of history, and what a gift to have this new life and to look forward.

Royal fan's plaud William's approach to christening

WILLIAM AND KATE'S 22 GUESTS TO ENJOY TEA AND WEDDING CAKE

After Prince George's christening, Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will give a private tea at Clarence House.

The centrepiece will be the extraordinary cake that William and Kate enjoyed at their wedding reception.
On April 29, 2011, Prince William and his new wife cut the first slice of the magnificent eight-tiered wedding cake, but one of the tiers was saved for today.
Maker Fiona Cairns spent five weeks working on it along with her large team.
Kate had asked for the Joseph Lambeth technique of cake decoration, where intricate piping is used to make three dimensional scroll work, leaves, flowers and other adornments.
The then bride also gave Ms Cairns detailed instructions for her to include 17 different blooms and foliage for symbolism - known as the ‘language of flowers’.
The four flowers of the home nations - English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil and Irish shamrock - were featured on the penultimate tier and the top cake, around six inches in diameter, was covered with lace details with a garland of lily of the valley and heather on top.

A handful of royal fans braved overnight downpours to claim their spot outside St James's Palace for Prince George's christening.
The group wore Union flag-patterned clothes and held banners to congratulate the future king.
Terry Hutt, 78, from Cambridge, said: 'As a parent, we all want our children christened and there's no difference between George and us really.
'What makes it really special is he's a newcomer, he could well be a king one day and, if he follows his father's footsteps, I'm sure between them they will make two good kings.'
Julie Cain, 50, from Newcastle, arrived at 7.30am yesterday morning.
'I couldn't be at the birth so I just wanted to be here.
'It's tradition, another piece of history in the making, and I just didn't want to miss it,' she said.
But Miss Cain admitted her chances of catching a glimpse of the Royal Family were limited.
She said: 'We've been told we won't be seeing much of anything, but at least we can say we were here.'
John Loughrey, 58, from Wandsworth, south-west London, was among those who spent last night sheltering under a tarpaulin erected in a road opposite the Palace.
'This is history and I'm here to see it,' he said.
Mr Loughrey claimed the whole country was 'going mad' about Prince George.
'I'm excited, we're all getting excited,' he added. 'I can't wait.'
The ornate Lily Font used to baptise Prince George, was made for the christening of Queen Victoria's eldest child Victoria, Princess Royal.

The ornate Lily Font used to baptise Prince George, was made for the christening of Queen Victoria's eldest child Victoria, Princess Royal.
Crafted out of silver gilt, the edge of the fluted bowl is decorated with sprays of flowers and ivy and the scrolled sides of the high base feature three large cherubs playing lyres.
It has traditionally been used for royal christenings, including all of Queen Victoria's children.
It was used at the christenings of all the Queen's children and her grandchildren, except Princess Eugenie who was baptised at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham.
The font, which will have been brought to the Chapel Royal from the Tower of London where it is usually on show as part of the Crown Jewels, takes its name from its distinctive lily shaped stem.
Made by silversmiths EJ and W Barnard in 1840 for Victoria, Princess Royal's christening in 1841, it stands 17 inches high and sixteen-and-a-half inches in diameter.
It also features the royal arms of Queen Victoria and the joint royal arms of Victoria and Prince Albert - Prince George's great-great-great-great-great-grandparents, who were married in the Chapel Royal in 1840.
When royal christenings are held in the Chapel Royal, it is tradition to use holy water taken from the River Jordan, where it is said Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist.

Intimate: The little-known Chapel Royal at St James's Palace, where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert married, has been chosen for Prince George's christening

Meet the godparents: Zara and six of Kate and William's closest friends will be Prince George's mentors

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen old friends rather than other royals and dignitaries to be godparents to three-month-old Prince George.

Julia Samuel: The friend of William's mother Princess Diana

The Honourable Mrs Michael Samuel, 54, was a close friend of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.  A mother of four who lives in west London, her son Benjamin, now 23, was one of Diana's godsons.
Mrs Samuel is a psychotherapist and counsellor at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, where she helps families who have lost a child or baby.
She helped launch Child Bereavement UK, a charity for families who lose a child or for children who are bereaved, in the presence of Diana. William is now one of the charity's patrons.
Born Julia Guiness, her sister Sabrina was a girlfriend of Prince Charles.  Mrs Samuel is married to businessman Michael,60, and their children are in their 20s.

Nod to the past: Julia Samuel, left, one of Diana Princess of Wales' closest friends, has been handed the honour by the Cambridges today

William van Cutsem: The son of Prince Charles' dearest friend and William's 'second brother'

No royal occasion is complete these days without a member of this large Catholic family of Norfolk landowners, and William, 34, is the youngest of the late Hugh and Emilie van Cutsem's four sons.
Educated, like his father, who was a close friend of the Prince of Wales, at Ampleforth, William is the only Catholic godparent and a childhood friend of Prince William.
In May this year William married Rosie Ruck-Keene in the village of Ewelme, south Oxfordshire.  Prince Wililam, who reportedly dated Rosie in 2007 when he briefly split from Kate, attended the wedding with his heavily-pregnant wife.
Wililam's niece Rose van Custem was a flower girl at the royal wedding and was seen covering her ears when the crowds outside Buckingham Palace roared as Kate and William kissed.

Emilia Jardine-Paterson: The Marlborough schoolfriend and Kate's shoulder to cry on

Emilia, whose maiden name was d'Erlanger and who comes from Tiverton in Devon, has known Prince William since she was 19 and Kate for even longer having also attended private school Marlborough College with her.
She and the Duchess are extremely close, and they went to Ibiza together when the now-married couple split-up in 2007.
A talented interior designer, she is said to be helping the Cambridges renovate their apartment at Kensington Palace, which would include decorating Prince George's bedroom.
She is married to David Jardine-Paterson, who will also be at the christening today, who is heir to a powerful Scottish land-owning family.

Inner circle: Prince William's childhood friend William Van Cutsem, 39, (left) and  Emilia Jardine-Paterson, 31, have both been asked to be godparents

Zara Tindall: The only member of the royal family asked to give George guidance

Married to rugby player Mike Tindall, with whom she is expecting their first baby early next year, Zara,32, is William's first cousin and the only member of the royal family to be asked to be godparent.
A down-to-earth event rider who enjoys a drink and is happiest in a pair of scruffy jodhpurs and a fleece, gregarious Zara will help bring a sense of normality into the life of the future King.  She won a team silver eventing medal at London's 2012 Olympics.
Zara, who is said to be a particular favourite of her grandmother, the Queen, married Mr Tindall not at Westminster Abby but at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh in 2011.  She pledged to honour, not obey, and kept her maiden name, Phillips, for work.

Calm influence: Zara, pictured with her rugby-playing husband Mike Tindall, will help keep Prince George's feet on the ground

Oliver Baker: The friend from St Andrew's trusted with couple's secrets at University

Oliver Baker, 31, known as Ollie to his closest friends, was part of the couple's trusted inner circle formed when they all studied together at St Andrew's University.
George's now-godfather shared accommodation with them in the Scottish university town and was so attached to the area he married his wife Mel there. She will also be at St James's Palace today.
Ollie also lived with the couple in a rural farmhouse in their final year because he was trusted to keep secrets about their private lives.
When Kate moved to London after graduating she then moved into a flat with Ollie's now wife and the couples are still extremely close.
Ollie married Mel Nicholson at St Andrew's in 2010 and William and Kate were at the wedding.

Old friend: Oliver Baker, pictured with Prince William at Cheltenham races, went to St Andrew's University with the couple

Hugh Grosvenor: The son of Britain's wealthiest landowner's who likes to party

Hugh, Earl Grosvenor, is son and heir of the Duke of Westminster, one of Britain's richest people, and aged just 22, he will be Prince George's youngest godparent.
The former Newcastle University student celebrated turning 21 in February last year with a lavish party at his parents' pile Eaton Hall, near Chester, with entertainment from comedian Michael McIntyre and music from hip hop duo, the Rizzle Kicks.
Prince Harry attended the party, which was estimated to have cost several million pounds.
The Duke of Westminster's land covers the most expensive real estate in Britain and includes 100 acres of Mayfair and 200 acres of Belgravia.
Hugh's sister, Lady Tamara, married Wililam van Cutsem's eldest brother Ed, 40, in 2004.
Unlike his father, who went to Eton, Hugh, Earl Grosvenor went to a state primary school followed by a private day school near his country home.

Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton: The trusted aide who served William, Kate and Harry

The 52-year-old former SAS Major, who has been a private secretary to William and Harry since 2005, has been a constant help and confidant to the young princes.
Married with four children and living in a pretty old rectory in Suffolk, Mr Lowther-Pinkerton was the most senior member of William's team until he resigned as from his full-time post last month, becoming a one-day-a-week consultant, instead.
Trained at Sandhurst, the discreet former Irish Guard was attached to the SAS for two decades and served in the Gulf War, where he gained a reputatuion as a particularly capable officer.
He was equerry to the Queen Mother from 1984-1986, and has also run risk management training courses for journalists and travellers, schooling them in what to do if you are shot at and how to avoid being kidnapped.

Mentors: Former SAS Major Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a trusted aide of Prince William since 2005, left, will be one of the godfathers as will Hugh Grosvenor, right

And the senior royals who didn't make the list of invitees...

Choosing old friends rather than royals and other dignitaries is not the only way in which today's christening of Prince George is breaking with tradition.

When the three-month-old heir to the throne is christened in the Chapel Royal in St James's Palace this afternoon, there will be a noticeably smaller crowd witnessing the event.

Many senior royals including Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Anne, Princess Royal, have not been invited by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who want to keep their baby's christening more intimate than lavish royal christenings from days gone by.

None of William's uncles or aunts will attend, meaning - on his father's side - that the Duke of York, his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, the Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and Anne, Princess Royal and her husband Tim Laurence will all be absent from the festivities.

Not going: Prince Andrew, pictured leaving Lulu's private members club last night, has not been invited and nor has Prince Edward, pictured in Park Lane today

Not invited: Prince Edward's wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, seen visiting an NSPCC centre in Bristol today hours before the christening

Not invited: Anne, Princess Royal, will not be at the christening, although her daughter, Zara, will be the baby's godmother

None of William's cousins will be there either, other than Zara Tindall who has been asked to be Prince George's godmother.  Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have not been asked, nor has Zara's brother Peter Phillips, 35, who has two small daughters with his Canadian wife, Autumn.
Diana's brother Charles Spencer will not be there, and nor will the other controversial uncle, Carole Middleton's tattooed, shaven-headed brother, Gary Goldsmith.
Only the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry will attend from William's family, while the Middleton side will be represented by Kate's parents Michael and Carole, and her siblings, James and Pippa.
Harry's girlfriend, dancer Cressida Bonas has not been asked, and nor have James Middleton's girlfriend, TV presenter Donna Air or Pippa's boyfriend, banker Nico Jackson.
With Prince George, his parents, the godparents and their spouses and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, who will perform the baptism, there will only be around 24 people present at this afternoon's ceremony.
By contrast William's christening in August 1982 was attended by more than 60 guests, and the only senior Royals missing were Prince Andrew, who was serving in the Falklands War, and Princess Margaret, who was on holiday in Italy.
William was given six godparents, including former King Constantine II of Greece, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, and the Duchess of Westminster, whose son, Hugh, will be Prince George's godfather.
The others were Lady Susan Hussey, a long-time confidante of the Queen, Lord Romsey, who is also Prince Philip's godson, and the late writer, Sir Laurens van der Post.

REVEALED: THE VOGUE AND VANITY FAIR PHOTOGRAPHER WHO HAS DONE PORTRAITS OF HOLLYWOOD ELITE CHOSEN TO TAKE OFFICIAL CHRISTENING PORTRAIT OF PRINCE GEORGE AND THE ROYAL FAMILY

Chose: Jason Bell will take the official photographs at Clarence House following the service in the Chapel Royal

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell to take the official pictures to mark the christening of their son Prince George.

Bell is renowned for his images of Hollywood stars and rock and pop legends like Sir Paul McCartney, actress Scarlett Johansson and former England footballer David Beckham.

Kensington Palace confirmed the commission of Bell in a statement, reading: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have asked Jason Bell to be the official photographer at the christening of their son, Prince George. Mr Bell will take the official photographs at Clarence House following the service in the Chapel Royal.
'Jason Bell is a well-established portrait photographer and his work has appeared in many of the world's foremost publications.

'Many of Jason's photos have been acquired for the National Portrait Gallery for their permanent collection. He has received a number of awards, including The Royal Photographic Society's Terence Donovan Award for outstanding contribution to photography and the Best British Black and White Photographer at the British Picture Editor's Awards.

'He was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in September 2011.
'The photographs taken after the ceremony will be historic images that are expected to capture four generations of the royal family together.

'The pictures will show the Queen with three future monarchs - the Prince of Wales, William and George.

It will echo the picture taken in July 1894 during the christening of the future Edward VIII, showing the royal baby with his father, later George V, grandfather, the future Edward VII, and great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Bell's images have been featured in the National Portrait Gallery and published in glossy magazines like Vogue and Vanity Fair.