UK's Princess Charlotte to be christened on queen's estate

LONDON: Britain's Princess Charlotte, the nine-week-old baby of Prince William and his wife Kate, is to be christened Sunday at a church on Queen Elizabeth II's country estate.

The queen, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Kate's family will be among guests attending the event at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, near England's eastern coast. The church is where Charlotte's late grandmother, Princess Diana, was christened in 1961.

Charlotte, the fourth in line to the throne, is likely to make a rare appearance for the cameras. It's only the second glimpse of the princess in public since she was born May 2.

Ahead of the ceremony, palace officials announced that William and Kate have chosen five godparents for Charlotte. They included William's cousin Laura Fellowes, Kate's cousin Adam Middleton, and three of the couple's friends.

Sunday's event will see the Cambridges — William is known as the Duke of Cambridge and Kate the duchess — appear in public for the first time as a family of four. Celebrity photographer Mario Testino will take official photos of the royal family after the service.

Like her elder brother George, Charlotte will be christened in a replica of the intricate lace-and-satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, also named Victoria, in 1841.

Following royal tradition, the water used for the christening will be holy water from the River Jordan, where it is said Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.