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What is it with the Windsors?

(218 Posts)
absent Thu 24-Oct-13 01:12:13

First of all they put the poor child – born, please note, in the twenty-first century – in a ^replica (not even the original) of the christening robe first made for Princess Vicky (born 1840). Then he is christened with water from the River Jordan. What kind of superstition is that about? And how clean is any river water? And he has no fewer than seven godparents. Are they all going to see to his spiritual welfare? Yeah – oink flap.

Then the media like to tell us that the Cambridges wish to lead as normal a life as possible.

harrigran Thu 24-Oct-13 01:32:01

Morning absent I forgot to watch the news about the baptism. I upset my mother by refusing to put the family heirloom on DD, she went out and bought a nice nylon dress instead, her words not mine smile

Granny23 Thu 24-Oct-13 02:27:10

I saw the photographs and thought the robe was HIDEOUS, OTT and looked decidedly ??? on a boy.

We do have a lace and cotton lawn family christening robe, made, I believe, by my GGM for the christening of her first DGD (my Aunt) in 1914. It washes beautifully and comes up snowy white. It has been worn by that Aunt, my mother, my sister, me, DD1 and also DGDs 1 & 2 for their baby naming ceremonies.

Harrigan it was my MIL who objected strongly to the use of an heirloom from my side of the family and brought along a nice nylon dress which she dressed DD1 in, immediately after the ceremony. MIL refused to attend the joint tea party afterwards, which my DSister and I had arranged as our babies were born only 3 months apart and were christened together. She sat alone in our house until I could decently leave the party. DH and FIL (undertakers) had been called away to a sudden death and missed the party too, returning just in time for the steak pie dinner I had prepared, only to be ordered to take his mother home immediately because she was so upset and leaving me to feed and entertain my family alone. This debacle resulted in me refusing, 3 years later, to have DD2 christened at all, which led to MIL (who never attended church!) plotting to kidnap DD2 and have her christened secretly shock.

The question of whether DGS (only boy in 3 generations of girls) should wear the very pretty robe or not did not arise because being a monster 10.5 pounds at birth he would not have fitted into it.

thatbags Thu 24-Oct-13 06:49:05

All boys wore dresses until they were out of nappies before laundry became easy so don't be sexist about a baby in a dress, g23 smile. I thought it looked hideous too.

Bang on, absent, about flying pigs and normality.

Ariadne Thu 24-Oct-13 06:53:43

DD's MiL bought a christening robe - never used from a charity shop for DGD's christening. Didn't consult DD, just arrived with it. DD was upset - wondering why it hadn't been used, though there may have been a simple explanation. And it was dreadful. In the end, DD dressed DGD in it during the preceding week and took a photo.

LizG Thu 24-Oct-13 07:14:23

DD's ex MiL made beautiful Christening robes for all her femail GCs. That was the last nice thing she did for my daughter. Bitter, me. Never!

LizG Thu 24-Oct-13 07:18:31

Forgot t say I also thought 'The' robe was hideous.

bluebell Thu 24-Oct-13 07:40:11

Replica says it all for me - the whole Windsor caboodle is one huge artificial, manufactured, unreal, confidence trick which huge numbers of peope fall for - breads and circuses doesn't come close..... Well, that's a good start for the day. And why doesn't anyone seem to care about that disgraceful case of he Roma girl in Ireland, oh shit, just listening to review of the papers on R4 - how many pages of photos on the christening? I want to live in a grown- up country.....wails....

moomin Thu 24-Oct-13 07:44:13

Big Fat Gypsy Christening anyone thlwink?

thatbags Thu 24-Oct-13 08:01:29

grin

Oldgreymare Thu 24-Oct-13 08:58:38

moomim... smile

Gagagran Thu 24-Oct-13 09:14:13

bluebell I take it you are not a fan of tradition then? Some of us (most of us?) prefer to have our Royals than a puffed up President and all that would entail. What Prince George wore for this christening is a matter for his parents - not you or me or anyone else. I am fed up of all the negative knocking about the Royal Family.

Mamardoit Thu 24-Oct-13 09:15:06

Christening heirlooms can be a problem if both sides have them so I would always say let the parents choose something nice and contemporary. That way everyone is happy or maybe unhappy but at least it's fair.
My DS and DDIL were put under some pressure to dress their DD1 in a christening gown worn by 3 generations of DIL family. They didn't like it so delayed the christening until DD1 was 9 months old and had outgrown it. The other granny was not pleased and wouldn't 'allow' a lovely white shawl that all my 6 DC were wrapped in to be used. I made sure I got a photo of DGD wrapped in the shawl after the service.
DS and DDIL now have new born twins and they won't be needing the gown because on special occasions both parents want the babies to wear the same outfits.

Can't understand why anyone would chose a replica of a hideous looking garment for the baby.

dorsetpennt Thu 24-Oct-13 09:25:16

Reading of some of the fuss upset listed above I'm glad I come from a long line of the unchristened.

Hunt Thu 24-Oct-13 09:26:16

Maybe if they had been able to have a really private ceremony as they wished we wouldn't have known what George was wearing.

Anniebach Thu 24-Oct-13 09:27:55

Didn't like the gown but it's a family tradition, having seen little ones of the same age in Burberry or denim then that robe for me and boys have worn christening gowns for centuries . I think the water from the Jordon is a family tradition too. I am thankful my family traditions are not splashed across the media, what is ' normal' about family traditions anyway

annodomini Thu 24-Oct-13 09:40:38

My family has forgone christening I'm glad to say and the children appear to be none the worse for being unsanctified! I have just had a look at that gown and I hope the poor child isn't too embarrassed when he is older and has to look at the photographs on the royal mantelpiece: all frills and lace - in the 21st century!

Scarlet21 Thu 24-Oct-13 09:54:31

Are family traditions so wonderful? They seem to cause a lot of arguments, especially when there are two different families involved. I don't think my family had any traditions so we were all free to establish our own, none of which involved any religious ceremonies. My own children don't do things the way I did, which just proves to me that they have independent minds.

Nonu Thu 24-Oct-13 10:18:20

I thought the parents looked rather sweet and the child is certainly a bonny baby !

smile

KatyK Thu 24-Oct-13 10:24:41

Apparently the original fell apart hence the replica

Nonu Thu 24-Oct-13 10:38:34

Which was made by Angela the queens dressmaker .

gracesmum Thu 24-Oct-13 11:00:20

You see there's nothing like bonny baby and some posh frocks and hats to brighten up a wet Wednesday. Just PLU (people like us) really but with loads more dosh grin

Nonu Thu 24-Oct-13 11:07:17

grin

Flowerofthewest Thu 24-Oct-13 11:18:03

I think that what Prince George wore was a choice of he Grandmother and not the young couple

Ariadne Thu 24-Oct-13 11:21:44

Bet it was!