LESS than a week since the birth of the newest royal baby,
Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana, attention is already turning to
her christening.
The second child to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, a sister
for Prince George, was born on Saturday morning at St Mary's
Hospital in Paddington, west London. Messages of congratulation
flooded in from around the UK and the world.
The Archbishop of Canterbury tweeted his congratulations, and
said: "May God bless them and both of their children with love,
health and joy."
The President of the United States, Barack Obama, and his wife,
Michelle, led congratulations from world leaders; and in the
Commonwealth, the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, said that
the birth marked "a great day for Australians" and that he hoped
the princess would love the country as the rest of her family
did.
The Church of England published a prayer for the couple and
their children.
To mark the occasion, the Westminster Abbey Company of Ringers
rang a full peal of Cambridge Surprise Royal on the Abbey's ten
bells on Monday, to coincide with a gun salute in Hyde Park. It is
a historic tradition that the Abbey's bells are rung for
significant royal occasions.
Speculation over the baby's christening has led to bookies'
running bets on a July service, before the Queen goes on holiday to
Balmoral. Prince George was christened at the Chapel Royal in St
James's Palace, by Archbishop Welby, and it is likely that the
christening of Princess Charlotte will follow suit.
The Duke and Duchess took their new arrival to their home on the
Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, Anmer Hall, where they are likely to
stay at least until the end of the month. The Bishop of Norwich,
the Rt Revd Graham James, said: "The diocese of Norwich treasures
its relationship with the Royal Family, and there will be many
prayers of thanksgiving here for the safe delivery of the Duke and
Duchess of Cambridge's daughter. God bless them."