What is it with the Windsors?

Its a lovely faith tradition, the gown has been used by so many of the family it had become fragile so a replica was carefully hand crafted, its a work of art and helps keep crafts alive, the water from the Jordan is because it was in the River Jordan that Christ was baptized by St John the Baptist. Its not compulsory for everyone and its very important to those of us who do believe. Also some lovely pics of some lovely frocks and hats!

We have a family Christening gown, hand knitted by my Mum in Law at my request and there are hats, under-gowns and a shawl all stored with it to suit either sex and several sizes, it was used for three of our four children ( our youngest two were done together and the older wore a little sailor suit) so far only one of our grandchildren has been baptised in it.

The nicest thing about the whole caboodle for me is that someone was commissioned to make the Honiton lace by hand. I'm all for keeping old crafts alive.

Which grandmother Flower ?

Lots of families have 'heirloom' christening gowns, what's wrong with that? And why knock trad christening gowns.....what about trad wedding gowns? Quite a lot of the negative reaction arises from pure ignorance.

This is why neither of my DGS have been Christened.

My children were not christened (another story) but I love the idea of a naming ceremony and I also love the idea of a family 'christening' gown. I agree with Lilygran that it's only the same as a traditional wedding dress. And I don't mind the idea of little boys being dressed in a dress either, as long as they are still very small.

I know it was the couple's choice to have a more 'intimate' service but I feel a little bit sad that they didn't invite everyone in the family. It has nothing to do with it being the royal family, it's just that I think family occasions are important. I speak as someone who now has next to no family left and will be struggling to find anyone I know at DD's wedding next year (apart from OH and our children, of course)

I thought the baby looked like Queen Victoria!!! He wasn't amused that's for sure.

I liked the gown.

I find it sad that some people feel the need to endessly knock our royal family. And whatever little George wore was going to be criticised by such people, wasn't it. It's just a traditional gown in their family; where's the harm?

Imagine what some of the comments would have been here if they had invited the whole family nightowl

We did have a christening gown, I'm not sure how many generations it went back, but I was christened in it. I was going to use it for my children but, as we never decided whether they were going to be CofE or RC, they never did get christened.

Flowerofthewest The Middleton grandmother is unlikely to have chosen a robe designed for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter. The other grandmother is dead and so hasn't chosen anything.

Katyk The original has been preserved for posterity. Why is anyone's guess.

Actually the river Jordan water is tested weekly and is perfectly clean. At least that was what I was told at the baptismal site in Israel.

Lilygran Ignorant of what?

btw Re a monarch rather than a president. The assumption always seems to be that a UK president would be like an American one. Given the constitution, he/she would be much more like the Irish one and the Prime Minister would remain the primus inter pares.

Even if Christ were baptised in the River Jordan – it's a river and so not the least bit the same after 2,000 years. Silly superstition.

Why shouldn't the Royal Family follow tradition. Not harming anyone are they?

They were hardly likely to pop down to primark and dress him in a Mickey Mouse onesy!

Atqui

The royal family can – and does – do as it likes. However, it would be good if it stopped pretending that anyone in the family was leading a "normal" life.

It picks and chooses about which family traditions to follow – and which families, for matter. How did the Duke of Edinburgh become a Mountbatten, for example? What about the relies that quite a few of them have spent years pretending didn't exist?

absent, What has any of that got to do with Prince George's christening?

It seems Prince William is determined to make changes and if it means his son will have a better understanding of how us normals live then that's a good thing.

Well I enjoyed what was available to watch of the Royal christening gathering! a bonny babe and happy family following tradition.
We had a family Christening robe but my kids were too big to wear it!
It has certainly stirred up some adverse comment , that's what GN is all about isn't it?

What is amazing is the number of column inches/ post inches dedicated to the minutiae of the ceremony/outfits/traditions/order of service/godparents etc - and the number of people preoccupied with said minutiae.

I loved it, gown and all and the baby looked so content. 7 god parents were a bit over the top but that is what they wanted so good luck to them.

Many years ago I worked for a small independent clothes shop which sold Christening gowns. It wasn't unusual to sell a gown to a Mum and see her back in the shop the next day with the father in tow asking for a replacement sailor suit as he wasn't having his son in a dress!

Nice to have something cheerful in the headlines-though having said this I am sure the comment will provoke further posts about privilege ,poverty etc etc