Britain鈥檚 Queen Elizabeth II, right, speaks with Prince William and Kate Duchess of Cambridge as they arrive with their son Prince George at the Chapel Royal in St James鈥檚 Palace, Wednesday Oct. 23, 2013. Britain鈥檚 3-month-old future monarch, Prince George will be christened Wednesday with water from the River Jordan at a rare four-generation gathering of the royal family in London. AP
LONDON 鈥� Britain鈥檚 baby Prince George was christened in a private ceremony on Wednesday, with his proud parents Prince William and Catherine giving the world a rare glimpse of the chubby three-month-old boy.
Wearing a frilly cream lace gown, the third in line to the throne was carried into the Chapel Royal of St James鈥檚 palace by his father, his mother Kate close by, elegant in a cream Alexander McQueen outfit.
Queen Elizabeth II and the couple鈥檚 parents and siblings, including William鈥檚 younger brother Prince Harry, were among just 22 guests at the ceremony, including seven newly-named godparents.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the spiritual head of the world鈥檚 Anglicans, performed the baptism, which involves pouring holy water from the River Jordan on the baby鈥檚 head.
Television pictures showed the light-haired George Alexander Louis appearing wide awake and calm. He even gave the semblance of waving at the 87-year-old queen, his great-grandmother, when his father moved his arm up and down.
鈥淗e鈥檚 tall ready,鈥� William, 31, told the assembled party, which included the baby鈥檚 grandfather Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, adding: 鈥淪o far so good.鈥�
Photographs of the gurgling prince were splashed across Britain鈥檚 Thursday newspapers, which were charmed by his serene performance.
The Sun ran the headline 鈥淕eorgeous 鈥� Prince is good as gold on big day鈥�, while the Daily Telegraph carried a front-page photograph of him in his mother鈥檚 arms under the words 鈥渢he perfect prince鈥�.
Inside, the Telegraph said the baby showed 鈥渞egal calm鈥�, while the Daily Mail and Times both released souvenir editions celebrating 鈥淕orgeous George鈥�.
The low-key ceremony reflects the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge want their son to have a relatively normal upbringing and have closely guarded his privacy. He has only appeared in public once before, when they left hospital after his birth on July 22.
The couple broke with tradition by naming only one royal, William鈥檚 cousin and champion horse-rider Zara Philips, among the godparents, with the others being childhood, university and work friends.
The ceremony welcomes Prince George into the Church of England, which he is destined to lead as future king and 鈥淒efender of the Faith鈥�.
During his address, Welby spelt out George鈥檚 responsibilities as a Christian, saying he 鈥渋s to share the life of Christ鈥�.
鈥淭hat sharing may be in words, or generous actions 鈥� most likely both 鈥� but it will be both very costly and infinitely rewarding,鈥� he added.
Harry and Kate鈥檚 sister Pippa Middleton both read passages from the Bible.
Each of the seven godparents was asked to commit to providing Prince George with guidance as he grew up.
Besides Zara Phillips, pregnant with her first child with rugby player husband Mike Tindall, they include William鈥檚 childhood friends William van Cutsem and Earl Hugh Grosvenor; Julia Samuel, who was close to William鈥檚 mother Diana; and Emilia Jardine-Paterson, who went to the private Marlborough College with Kate.
鈥楢 very special moment鈥�
A handful of royal fans camped overnight outside the palace hoping for a glimpse of the queen and her three direct heirs 鈥� Prince Charles, his son Prince William and baby George.
鈥淭his is a very special moment. We will see three kings in the making,鈥� said John Loughrey, a 58-year-old fan wearing a raincoat bearing the pattern of the Union Jack flag.
In the House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron urged lawmakers to 鈥渏oin me in celebrating鈥� the event.
The christening was in sharp contrast to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge鈥檚 lavish 2011 wedding, which was broadcast live on televisions across the world, and to the media frenzy surrounding the birth of their first child.
Just six members of the royal family attended, along with Kate鈥檚 parents Michael and Carole Middleton and her siblings James and Pippa.
The service was conducted behind closed doors although an official photograph by celebrity snapper Jason Bell will be released to the public on Thursday.
Afterwards the guests were invited for tea at Charles鈥檚 official London residence, Clarence House, where, following British tradition, a portion of William and Kate鈥檚 wedding cake was to be served.
The official photos are expected to gain iconic status, the first time four generations of monarchs have been pictured together since 1894, at the christening of the future king Edward VIII.
Patrick Jephson, Diana鈥檚 former private secretary, said the christening sent a strong message about the royal family鈥檚 durability as a dynasty.
鈥淚t reinforces the public perception that the British royal family is going to be around for a long time to come,鈥� he told AFP.