A History of Royal Baby Christenings

Queen Elizabeth, 1926

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The future Queen Elizabeth, born on April 21, 1926, was christened on May 29 of that year in the private chapel at London's Buckingham Palace. The queen's mother, also named Elizabeth (front row, center), and father (back row, second from right) were at that time known as Bertie and Elizabeth, the Duke and Duchess of York. The Duke of York would become King George VI in 1936 after his brother King Edward VIII's abdication.

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Prince Charles, 1948

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Prince Charles was born on Nov. 14, 1948, and at just 1 month old, was christened on Dec. 15 at Buckingham Palace. At that time, his mother was still Princess Elizabeth; she wouldn't ascend to the throne until February 1952.

Four generations of royals were present for Charles's christening: Prince Charles himself, his parents, Elizabeth and Philip, grandparents Queen Elizabeth and King George VI, and great-grandmother Queen Mary. Charles slept through the whole event.

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Princess Anne, 1950

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Born on Aug. 15, 1950, Princess Anne, Elizabeth's second child, was baptized on Oct. 21 at Buckingham Palace. Again, generations of royals gathered for the special occasion. However, 2-year-old Prince Charles nearly stole the show when he entered the room and tried to get their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to play with him.

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Peter Phillips, 1977

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Queen Elizabeth doted on her first grandchild, Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, at his christening on Dec. 22, 1977, held at the royal estate Balmoral in Scotland.

Peter, born on Nov. 15, is not a prince, as Anne decided on forgoing royal titles for him and her daughter, Zara, who was born in 1981.

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Prince William, 1982

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles held their son Prince William at his Aug. 4, 1982, christening in Buckingham Palace's Music Room. William had been born earlier that year on June 21.

William made quite a bit of noise during the photo session but was quieted when Diana put a pinkie in his mouth.

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Prince Harry, 1984

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Prince William took center stage at the Dec. 21, 1984, christening of his younger brother, Prince Harry, who was born on Sept. 15 of that year.

The ceremony, held at Windsor Castle, brought many royal relatives together, including Charles's grandmother, the Queen Mother (seated, second from left) and Diana's grandmother, Ruth Fermoy (seated, first on left). Diana's divorced parents, father Johnnie Spencer (third from the right, standing) and mother Frances Shand-Kydd (seated, first on right), also attended.

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Princess Beatrice, 1988

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The Duke of York, Prince Andrew, and his wife, the Duchess of York, the former Sarah Ferguson, held Princess Beatrice as they spoke with the Archbishop of York outside the Chapel Royal at London's St. James's Palace on Dec. 20, 1988. Prince Charles is in conversation behind the trio. Beatrice was born earlier that year on Aug. 8.

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Princess Eugenie, 1990

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Sarah, Duchess of York, held her daughter Princess Eugenie outside the little one's christening on Dec. 23, 1990, at the queen's estate Sandringham in Eastern England. Eugenie was born earlier that year on March 23.

Princess Diana is in the back row, in plaid, while a young William and Harry stand in front with the queen.

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Prince George, 2013

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Prince William and his wife, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, brought Prince George to say hello to Queen Elizabeth before his christening on Oct. 23, 2013.

The ceremony, held at the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London, came after the little one's July 22 birth.

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Princess Charlotte, 2015

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Kate Middleton gave Princess Charlotte the sweetest look during her picture-perfect christening on July 5, 2015.

The christening took place at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene on Queen Elizabeth II's Sandringham Estate, where the late Princess Diana was baptized, and although it was Charlotte's special day, Prince George also had plenty of cute moments throughout the day.

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