Fans of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will have a chance to catch a glimpse of the royal family this weekend during the young princess' christening.
The three-month old princess will be christened on July 5. On Monday, Kensington Palace released a statement inviting well-wishers to take part in the special day, and that they will be welcomed in the paddock outside the St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.
"The Duke and Duchess are hugely grateful for the warm wishes they have received since Princess Charlotte's birth — many of them from local people in Norfolk — and are delighted the paddock can be opened on the day of the christening," said the statement.
The church itself will be open to invited guests only, but thousands of people are expected to turn out for the rare opportunity to see the fourth in line to the throne. This is the first time in recent years that the christening of a senior member of the royal family has involved the public in any way. This will also be the first time all four members of the Cambridge family will be seen together in public.
Queen Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh will reportedly be at the service, as well as Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the princess' maternal grandparents Michael and Carole Middleton, and other guests. According to the Daily Mail, Prince Harry will most likely be absent as he has already left for Africa to spend time working as a wildlife ranger.
The baptism will be carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, who will also give an address. He will be supported by the Reverend Canon Jonathan Riviere, the Rector of the Sandringham group of parishes.
It is unknown who will be named as godparents of the three-month old royal, but current favorites for the position reportedly include the Duchess of Cambridge's sister, Pippa Middleton, and her school friend Alicia Fox-Pitt, as well as the Duke's cousin Peter Phillips.
