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Twelve Years On, George’s Christening Godparents Signal William and Kate’s Break With Royal Tradition

Outlets mark the 12th anniversary to highlight the Waleses’ shift toward choosing trusted friends over titled sponsors.

Overview

  • Retrospectives note that Prince George’s seven godparents in 2013 included only one royal, cousin Zara Tindall, with the others drawn from the couple’s close friends and inner circle.
  • Named godparents included Oliver Baker, Hugh Grosvenor, Emilia Jardine-Paterson, Julia Samuel, William van Cutsem and former private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton.
  • The ceremony itself stayed traditional at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, using the Lily Font with water from the River Jordan and a Victorian-style gown replica, with the Archbishop of Canterbury officiating.
  • Reporters emphasize that William and Kate repeated this friend‑focused approach for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, underscoring a consistent modernising choice.
  • Coverage frames the anniversary as a look back rather than a new development, with no fresh decisions or changes reported.