A mom's perspective...
I have been reading with interest (and shock, sometimes) at some of the comments posted here, and questions about why CP Mary wore what she wore, why she alone was holding the baby, etc. I thought I'd throw out a few things that occurred to me as a mom who has been through two christenings of my own sons at similar ages:
Lilleman/Prince Christian: Most babies in the first few months look a bit like little aliens. Put a baby boy in a fussy, frilly, ancient Christening gown (no matter how beautiful), let alone a lace bonnet, and he's going to look a bit unnatural. Add to that the fact that he's surrounded by a huge crowd of people in a strange place, and yes, he looked a bit overwhelmed at times. But the photos of him grinning up at his mother were adorable, and anyone who can't see that and appreciate the pure love and joy in those photos is without a soul. In proper little boy's clothes, I bet he's a charmer!
CPMary: A bare head would have been inappropriate for a Princess in this setting, and wearing a big hat would have probably been a bad choice for several reasons. First, the chance of windy weather...she couldn't have kept a good hold of the baby and been trying to keep a hat from blowing away. Second, a big hat would have probably been disconcerting for her son, who at this age is beginning to see more than a foot or two away more clearly. A headband and girlish ribbon like CPM-M wore would have looked silly on her. So I thought her choice was unique, and appropriate given all those considerations.
As for the comments about Mary being the only one seen holding the baby yesterday: There have been a few photos I think of CPF holding him on other occasions, and I think watching their interactions during the ceremony and in photos, it's clear he's a doting father and husband. But this child was in a big, cavernous place surrounded by many, many people, most probably for the first time in his life. The music and the amplified voice of the celebrant in the church, the din of hundreds of voices at the reception - that's overwhelming for an infant who is used to the relative quiet of his own home and probably hasn't even experienced so much as the bustle and hum of a busy pediatrician's office, let alone a large church or reception. He is most likely to be calmed by his mother, his food source, the center of his universe at this young age. It was therefore entirely appropriate and wise that she was the one holding him most, if not all, of the day. It was simply the most practical thing to do to help keep him calm and feeling safe.
Finally, though I realize she has much better things to do than read our silly thoughts, I can't help but think how she'd feel to read comments about her son on such a day, and how hurt she'd be by people questioning her parenting and making unkind remarks about the looks of her child. I know these are public forums for us to discuss and debate, but we're talking about a baby here, folks. If we can't say something nice, could we not opt to say nothing at all? He's got the rest of his life to have his every little freckle and action criticized by people like us who have nothing better to do in our own lives than to criticize the lives of others. It just seems sad we can't simply all be kind to a three month old, as we'd hope someone would be to our own child.
Clearly, these are just my thoughts, as a ridiculously doting mother, and nothing more than my insignificant opinion. Carry on!
