Royal christening: the location

St James' Palace, London is a foreboding building from the outside.  Maybe it's the dark stone it's built from that looks harsh even in the brightest summer sunshine.  Maybe it's the way it's now tucked away between busy London streets and bright open parks, life buzzing all around its historic walls.  But on October 23rd 2013 it will be the setting for a family occasion that will be shrouded in intimacy but filled with destiny. 

 

William, Kate and George on a warm, summer evening in July.  Their next public appearance will be at a dark building in London on a windy, autumn day.

 

The decision of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to baptize their son, George, in the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace was a surprise as most had expected the event to take place in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace where many royal christenings have happened in recent years.  But the personal links the couple have to the palace (Kate was confirmed into the Church of England there just before her marriage in April 2011 and William and Harry's mother, Diana, laid in rest there the night before her funeral) led to this slightly unusual choice.

 

 

The Chapel Royal at St James' Palace, London, where Prince George of Cambridge will  christened on October 23rd 2013

 

And in many ways, the couple are being more traditional than those who have gone before and baptized their babies in Buckingham Palace.  For St James' is still the official residence of the monarch even though kings and queens since the reign of Victoria have set up home in Buck House. 

 

 

St James' Palace, London is the official residence of the monarch

 

It was built on the site of the former St James' Hospital by Henry VIII and was home to Henry's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, who died there in 1536.  Henry's eldest legitimate child, Mary I, died there and her sister, Elizabeth I, is said to have stayed there as the Spanish Armada approached.  But it became the monarch's main home in London in 1698 after Whitehall Palace burned down.  Today, it's the London residence of Prince Charles and Prince William and Prince Harry have their offices there so they can all nip back to work if they get bored of the champagne and cake. 

 

 

The Chapel Royal, St James' Palace, London

 

And the Chapel Royal where the christening will take place is also a working environment.  The Chapel Royal was originally the name of the body of religious men and choristers who served the monarch and followed them round the country.  They set up at St James after the fire at Whitehall and have remained there ever since.  And the choristers of St James will lead the hymns at George's christening on October 23rd (nothing worse than a wedding or christening where no one sings along).  Far from bucking tradition, Kate and William are taking their future king back to the most important royal seat in the land for his first major event.