Wednesday, February 9, 2011

New princess gets five names


February 9, 1937


The baptism of Princess Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel of Kent took place today in the private chapel at Buckingham Palace, reports the Associated Press.  The Archbishop of Canterbury officiated at the ceremony. 
 
The infant princess is the first daughter and second child of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.  
 
King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Mary, and other members of the royal family attended the ceremony.

The gold christening font was brought over from Windsor Castle, and water "from the River Jordan was poured on the perturbed little girl," who wore an "ancient robe of Brussels lace and cream satin," worn for the first time in 1840 at the baptism of Queen Victoria's first child, Princess Victoria.

Princess Alexandra's godparents are the King and Queen and Earl of Athlone, who were present, and the Queen of Norway, Princess Beatrice, Princess Nicholas of Greece, Princess Paul of Yugoslavia, who were unable to attend.

The Times reports that Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, and Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, attended the ceremony.  Prince Edward of Kent, elder child of the Duke and Duchess, " was taken to the ceremony."

1 comment:

Ron said...

I love to see postcards from your collection. How many do you have?