Baby George's christening date

The boy born to be the head of the Church of England will take his first steps into religion on October 23rd 2013.  Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge will be christened then at St James Palace with the Archbishop of Canterbury leading the service.  The current head of the church, Queen Elizabeth II, will be present as will the next in line to carry the title created by Henry VIII almost 500 years ago.  But George's granddaddy, Charles, has already signaled a change that will mean the role the baby prince inherits in the Church of England might be very different from the one his great grandmother holds now.

 

George of Cambridge, future king and head of the Church of England, will be christened on October 23rd at St James Palace in London

 

The Queen also bears the title Defender of the Faith.  Check your coins, it's there for all to see, emblazoned in its Latin form FD, or FID DEF.  But Prince Charles has said he wants to be known as Defender of Faith - a subtle shift that would acknowledge and embrace the changes in culture and faith seen in the country he will rule. 

 

 

Prince Charles at the recent installation of the new chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis.  The prince was praised at that service for his willingness to embrace all faiths.

 

How that role as head of the Church of England - a creation of a king of England - and as a defender of the faith or faith will develop before George acquires them remains to be seen and rests in the hands of those who will cradle him on his christening day.  For George, his christening is not just a personal experience for him and his family, it is part of his constitutional role as well.  He may be a little man in  his mummy's arms but on October 23rd 2013, George begins his journey as a future leader and monarch.