On the 31st March 1869, Prince Albert, son of Princess Helena and grandson of Queen Victoria, was baptised in the Private Chapel at Windsor Castle
"A bright morning. - After breakfast went to wish Aunt Cambridge good morning, then drove with Baby down to Frogmore, where I saw Lenchen for a moment & gave a present to the monthly nurse, & a bronze bust of my dearest Albert for the dear Baby, who was to bear his name. Then walked to the Mausoleum & drove home. - At 10 o'clock the Christening took place in the Chapel. I, Louise, Arthur, Leopold, George C., the Dss of Roxburghe & Herr von Fabrice (Min of the King of Saxony), assembled, as Sponsors in the in the White Drawingroom, & then went into the chapel, whither Lenchen, Christian Aunt Cambridge, Baby, Edward P.W.& visitors occupied all the pews below, & the servants the ones & above. George was the only real Sponsor, all the others being proxies: I, for the Dowr Queen of Denmark, - Louise, for Alix, - the Dss of Roxburghe for Alice, - Arthur for Affie, - Leopold, for Fritz Holstein, & Herr van Fabrice, for the King of Saxony. I named the child Albert, (by which name he is to be called) John, (after the King of Saxony) Charles, Frederick, Alfred, George. He was so good, though wide awake, & looked so big. The Arch Bishop of Canterbury performed the service, & very impressively. Afterwards we went into the Green Drawingroom where little Christian & the Baby appeared & the company came in. Lenchen looked extremely well, all in white. We had a family luncheon of 11, in the Oak Room, after which we all separated. Bertie's children came in, towards the end of luncheon. - Very tired, & resting, then took a nice drive with Baby & the Dss of Roxburghe, by Holyport & Fifield. A fine evening. - Edward s.W., the Ld Chancellor, Jane Churchill (came yesterday) & Ld Geraldine Somerset dined. All went afterwards to the Drawingroom, & the Dss of Roxburghe to my room & read to me.
© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2012
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