George pictured with close family

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25 October 2013

Prince George is pictured in the arms of the Duchess of Cambridge and surrounded by his immediate family in an official christening photograph that has been released.

The royal baby was baptised on Wednesday and his public appearance gave the world only its second glimpse of the future king.

George appeared happy and content throughout the day and his father William even joked just before the ceremony began that his son was the "quietest" he had been.

Later that evening the Queen described the baptism, carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, as "very nice" when she appeared at a reception.

And Kate last night said George was "such a good boy" throughout the ceremony.

The duke and duchess chose celebrity portrait photographer Jason Bell to take the official pictures to mark the christening at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace.

In the image that has been released Kate is shown seated on a sofa cradling her three-month-old son, with the Queen sitting on her right and William on her left, both pictured with their hands in their lap.

Baby George is wearing a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.

Standing behind the sofa are the infant's immediate family - the royals and the Middletons.

George's seven godparents are not in the official pictures.

The Duke of Edinburgh is standing on the far left of the photograph and on his left in order are the Prince of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry.

On Harry's left are Kate's siblings Pippa and James, then her parents Carole and Michael.

The picture was taken immediately after the christening service in the morning room of Clarence House the official London home of Charles and Camilla.

It is an historic image as it shows the Queen with three future monarchs - Charles, William and George.

The photograph has similarities with a picture taken in July 1894 during the christening of the future Edward VIII, showing the royal baby with his father, later George V, grandfather, the future Edward VII, and great grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Bell is renowned for his images of Hollywood stars and rock and pop legends like Sir Paul McCartney, actress Scarlett Johansson and former England footballer David Beckham.

But taking the official pictures to mark the royal baby's christening will be a highlight of his career.

The Queen was in a buoyant mood when she spoke about the ceremony during a Buckingham Palace reception last night for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

She chatted to the Bishop of London, The Right Reverend Richard Chartres, who had been at the Chapel Royal service and said about the christening: "It was very nice though, wasn't it?"

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