LONDON鈥擳hree generations of future British kings will gather on Wednesday for the low-key christening of Prince George, the son of Prince William and his wife Catherine.
Current monarch Queen Elizabeth II will also be present for the third-in-line prince鈥檚 baptism, where she will be joined by heir apparent Prince Charles and second-in-line William.
But the ceremony, to be held at the Chapel Royal in London鈥檚 St James鈥檚 Palace, will be hidden from the world鈥檚 media.
Royal officials have said that only 鈥渃lose members of both families鈥� will attend the baptism, reflecting William and Catherine鈥檚 belief in keeping their son out of the spotlight.
The service will be conducted by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the head of the world鈥檚 Anglicans, who called it 鈥渢he next hugely important moment鈥� in the young prince鈥檚 life.
鈥淎 few months ago millions of people around the world celebrated the birth of Prince George,鈥� he said in a YouTube message released by his Lambeth Palace office on Tuesday.
鈥淣ow we鈥檙e celebrating the next hugely important moment, which is his christening.鈥�
A Church of England christening involves a new baby having holy water poured on its head 鈥� the baby is not fully immersed.
George 鈥� who is a future Supreme Governor of the Church of England and 鈥淒efender of the Faith鈥� 鈥� was born on July 22.
Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, carries her new born son, Prince George, into public view for the first time outside the Lindo Wing of St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital, in London in July. AP FILE PHOTO
Celebrity photographer Jason Bell 鈥� known for his portraits of Beatle Paul McCartney, footballer David Beckham and Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson 鈥� has been given sole responsibility for the official pictures.
The award-winning photographer will take the shots at Clarence House, the home of William鈥檚 father Prince Charles, following Wednesday鈥檚 service.
The pictures are expected to gain iconic status, showing four generations of monarchs together.
The last time such a photograph was taken was in 1894 at the christening of the future king Edward VIII, showing the infant with his father, later king George V, grandfather, the future king Edward VII, and great-grandmother, queen Victoria.
George has been deliberately shielded from the type of press attention that William blames for the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in car crash in Paris being followed by paparazzi.
The new baby鈥檚 only public appearance has been with his parents as he left the London hospital where he was born.
The only other sighting of George has been in a picture with William, Kate and the couple鈥檚 dog Lupo which Michael Middleton took in his family鈥檚 back garden.
This desire for privacy is also highlighted in the 鈥減ersonal decision鈥� to use the Chapel Royal, Diana鈥檚 former private secretary explained to Agence France-Presse.
鈥淭his is not like a royal wedding for example, this is essentially a private family occasion,鈥� said Patrick Jephson.
鈥淎ll be it, William and Kate have decided to make theirs a very intimate family occasion.
鈥淭he location鈥s different from recent history where baptisms have taken place in Buckingham Palace.鈥�
Jephson said that Wednesday鈥檚 ceremony would send a strong message of the family鈥檚 durability.
鈥淔or the royal family, a christening is important because it shows the continuing survival of the dynasty,鈥� he explained.
鈥淚t reinforces the public perception that the British royal family is going to be around for a long time to come.鈥�
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