Royal Babies

[Mandy]

They inhale their first breath to a resounding twenty-one gun salute. Within a few days, their tiny faces appear in every magazine and newspaper. Their christenings are grand occasions. Stamps, coins and postcards are issued to commemorate these events. Yet they sleep, unaware of the pomp and splendour of the occasion.


*If you have information or pictures of royal births that you wish to share with us, please feel free to PM an administrator or supermoderator.

 

[Mandy]

BELGIAN ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Princess Elisabeth Thérèse Marie Hélène of Belgium

Parents: Crown Prince Phillippe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Date of birth: October 25, 2001
Place of birth: Anderlecht, Belgium
Date of christening: December 9, 2001
Place of christening: Chapel of Ciergnon Castle
Godparents: Prince Amedeo of Belgium and Countess Hélène d'Udekem d'Acoz

Other information of note: The Scala Children’s Choir performed six songs in the threee national languages of Belgium.

Christening thread: Princess Elisabeth's Baptism


1. Presentation of newborn Elizabeth with Philippe and Mathilde.
2. Eliazabeth's baptism.
3. Elizabeht's godparents.
4. Presentation of newborn Elizabeth.

 

[Mandy]

BELGIAN ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Prince Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie of Belgium

Parents: Crown Prince Phillippe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Date of birth: 20 August 2003
Place of birth: Anderlecht, Belgium
Date of christening/baptism:
Place of christening/baptism:
Godparents: Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz and Baronness Maria Christina von Freyberg

Birth thread: Baby Boy For Phillippe And Mathilde

Christening thread: Prince Gabriel's Christening

1. Presentation of Gabriel.
2. Gabriel's christening.
3. Gabriel's christening.

 

[Mandy]

BELGIAN ROYALS


Full (christened) name:Princess Louise Sophie Mary of Belgium

Parents: Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium

Date of birth: February 6, 2004
Place of birth: Brussels
Date of christening: September 4, 2004
Place of christening: Private home of the Solvay family in La Hulpe
Godparents: Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein and Marie-Claude Solvay; the identity of the godfather was not revealed, although unconfirmed reports state that it is Prince Reza Pahlavi.

1. Presentation of Louise.

 

[Mandy]

DANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Prince Nikolai William Alexander Frederik of Denmark

Parents: Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra of Denmark

Date of birth: August 28, 1999
Place of birth: Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen
Date of christening: November 6, 1999
Place of christening: Fredensborg Palace Chapel
Godparents: Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Earl of Wessex, Nicola Baird, Camilla Flinth and Peter Steenstrup

1. Nikolai's birth.
2. Nikolai's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Prince Felix Henrik Valdemar Christian of Denmark

Parents: Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra of Denmark

Date of birth: July 22, 2002
Place of birth: Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen
Date of christening: October 4, 2002
Place of christening: Møgeltønder Church
Godparents: Martina Bent, Count Christian Ahlefeldt-Laurvig, Annick Boel, Oscar Davidsen Siesbye and Damian Sibley

Other information of note: One of Prince Felix’s godparents, Annick Boel, is Princess Alexandra’s lady-in-waiting.

1. Presentation of Felix.
2. Felix's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name:Count Friedrich Richard Oscar Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth

Parents:Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth

Date of birth: September 14, 1999
Place of birth: Copenhagen
Date of christening: December 18, 1999
Place of christening: Chapel of Berleburg Castle
Godparents: Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess Andrea von Pfeil-Haag, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Princess Märtha-Louise of Norway, Prince Philipp von Hessen, Nadine Keltaneh-Farah

Other information of note: CountRichard’s christening robe was designed by Princess Alexandra and made by Anthea Moore Ede of London. The gown is made of French organza with lace from Princess Benedikte, which originally came from her grandmother Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.

Christening thread: Baptism Of Richard Von Pfeil

1. Presentation of Richard.
2. Richard's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Countess Ingrid Alexandra Irma Astrid Benedikte von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth

Parents: Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson-Friedrich von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth

Date of birth: August 16, 2003
Place of birth: Copenhagen
Date of christening: December 13, 2003
Place of christening: Chapel of Berleburg Castle
Godparents: Princess Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess Bettina von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Princess Alexia of Greece, Prince Georg zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein, Martin Beyer

Other information of note: Countess Ingrid donned a gown designed by her mother and previously worn by her brother Count Richard at his baptism that is made of lace which originally belonged to Queen Alexandrine of Denmark.

1. Presentation of Ingrid
2. Ingrid's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Anastasia “Anna” Margriet Josephine Van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven

Parents:Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène van Vollenhoven

Date of birth: April 15, 2001
Place of birth: Amsterdam
Date of christening: September 23, 2001
Place of christening: Obrecht Church in Amsterdam
Godparents: Prince Bernhard van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven and Caroline van Weede-van den Broek

Other information of note: Anna was christened in an oecumenical service and is registered with both the Protestant and Catholic churches.

1. 2. Presentation of Anna.
3. Anna's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Lucas Maurits Pieter Henri van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven

Parents: Prince Maurits and Princess Marilène van Vollenhoven

Date of birth: October 26, 2002
Place of birth: Amsterdam
Date of christening: April 21, 2003
Place of christening: Chapel of Palace Het Loo, Apeldoorn
Godparents: Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven, Jeroen Pit and Emilie Pit-van Karnebeek

1. Presentation of Lucas.
2. Christening of Lucas.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Isabella Juliana Lily van Vollenhoven

Parents: Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau Van Vollenhoven

Date of birth: May 14, 2002
Place of birth: Amsterdam
Date of christening: December 22, 2002
Place of christening: Chapel of Palace Het Loo, Apeldoorn
Godparents: Prince Maurits van Vollenhoven, José Sekrève and Menno de Jong

1. to 3. Presentation of Isabella.
4. Isabella's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Samuel “Sam” Bernhard Louis van Vollenhoven

Parents:Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette van Oranje-Nassau Van Vollenhoven

Date of birth: May 25, 2004
Place of birth: Amsterdam
Date of christening: January 23, 2005
Place of christening: Chapel of Palace Het Loo, Apeldoorn
Godparents: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Prince Pieter-Christiaan van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven, Marjolein Sekrève and Diederik de Rooij

1. to 3. Presentation of Sam.
4. 5. Sam's Christening.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Eloise Sophie Beatrix Laurence, Countess van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg

Parents: Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands

Date of birth: June 8, 2002
Place of birth: The Hague
Date of christening: December 15, 2002
Place of christening: Chapel of Palace Het Loo, Apeldoorn
Godparents: Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands, Princess Carolina de Bourbon de Parme, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Sophie van de Wouw

1. 2. Presentation of Eloise.
3. Christening of Eloise.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Claus-Casimir Bernhard Marius Max, Count van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg

Parents: Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands

Date of birth: March 21, 2004
Place of birth: The Hague
Date of christening: October 10, 2004
Place of christening: Chapel of Palace Het Loo, Apeldoorn
Godparents: Prince Maurits van Oranje-Nassau van Vollenhoven, Crown Prince Willem-Alexandre of the Netherlands, Ed P. Spanjaard and Countess Tatjana Razumovsky von Wigstein

Other information of note: The introduction to the christening was read by Crown Princess Máxima of the Netherlands; lectures were read by Prince Johan Friso of the Netherlands and Marius Brinkhorst.

1. 2. Presentation of Claus-Casimir.
3. Christening of Claus-Casimir.

 

[Mandy]

DUTCH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Princess Catharina-Amalia Beatrix Carmen Victoria of the Netherlands

Parents: Crown Prince Willem-Alexandre of the Netherlandsand Princess Máxima of the Netherlands

Date of birth: December 7, 2003
Place of birth: The Hague
Date of christening: June 12, 2004
Place of christening: Grote of Sint Jacobskerk, The Hague
Godparents: Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, Martín Zorreguieta, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Marc ter Haar, Herman Tjeenk Willink and Samantha van Welderen Baroness Rengers-Deane

Other information of note: Approximately 1,200 people attended Princess Catharina-Amalia’s christening. She was carried into the service by her aunt, Princess Laurentien. Each of her godparents made a special wish for her:

Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands:
Dear Amalia. Take the world with you on your travel. Help us to step over limits. Open your eyes for what is different and let yourself be inspired by it.

Martín Zorreguieta:
Amalia, I hope that you will always have the modesty to admit your mistakes and the desire to learn from them. Because only then you can grow as a person.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden:
Dearest Amalia. Enjoy life and try to see every situation in a favourable light. May you stay close to nature and laughter. May you find joy in helping others. I wish you health and happiness.

Marc ter Haar:
Dear Catharina-Amalia. I wish you optimism, self-confidence and friendship. Friendship redoubles your joy and divides your sadness.

Herman Tjeenk Willink:
Dear Amalia. I wish you the space to be yourself and the strenght to stay yourself. May this space and strenght be given and be awarded to you.

Samantha van Welderen Baroness Rengers-Deane:
Dear Amalia. I wish you a life full of happiness, health and love and also the strenght to endure the difficulties and the sadness that the lot might allot upon you.

1. to 3. Presentation of Amalia.
4. to 6. Christening of Amalia.
7. A princess' very own Coat of Arms.
8. Coin issued to commemorate Amalia's birth.
9. Postal stamp issued to commemorate Amalia's birth.
10. Postal stamp issued to commemorate Amalia's christening.

 

[Mandy]

NORWEGIAN ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Maud Angelica Behn

Parents: Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn

Date of birth: 29th April 2003
Place of birth: Rikshospitalet, Oslo
Date of christening: 2nd July 2003
Place of christening: Royal Chapel, Oslo
Godparents: Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Alexandra of Berleburg, Kaare Conradi,Trond Giske, Marianne Ulrichsen, Anja Sabrina Bjoershol.

Other information of note: Maud Angelica wore the traditional royal Norwegian Christening Robe handmade by Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, in 1920. The first child to wear it was Prince Georg of Denmark (son of Princess Margaretha, Princess Ingeborg's oldest daughter) and since then it has been worn by most of Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Märtha's descendants. The names of all the wearers have been sewn onto it.

Christening thread: Maud Angelica Christening

1. to 3. Presentation of Maud Angelica.
4. to 6. Maud Angelica's christening.
7. Maud Angelica's parents, grandfather and godparents.

 

[Mandy]

NORWEGIAN ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Princess Ingrid Alexandra

Parents: Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit

Date of birth: 21st January 2004
Place of birth: Rikshospitalet, Oslo
Date of christening: 17th April 2004
Place of christening: Royal Chapel, Oslo
Godparents: King Harald, Princess Märtha Louise, Crown Prince Frederik, Prince Felipe, Crown Princess Victoria and Marit Tjessem.

Birth thread: Daughter for Haakon and Mette-Marit

Christening thread: Ingrid Alexandra's Baptism

1. 2. Newborn pictures of Ingrid Alexandra taken by her father, Haakon.
3. to 5. Ingrid Alexandra's christening.
6. 7. Postal stamp issued to commemorate Ingrid Alexandra's birth.

 

[Mandy]

SPANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Felipe Juan Froilan de Todos los Santos de Marichalar y de Borbon

Parents: HRH Doña Elena, Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Lugo & Don Jaime de Marichalar Saeñz y Tejada, Duke of Lugo

Date of Birth: July 17th, 1998, Madrid
Date of christening/baptism: October 4th, 1998
Place of christening/baptism: The Royal Chapel at the palace of La Zarzuela, Madrid
Godparents: King Juan Carlos I of Spain and Countess Concepcion de Marichalar (his paternal grandmother)
The christening/baptism gown: As a tradition, Foilan wore the same gown that was used by evey member of the Spanish Royal Family, since King Juan Carlos.

Other information of note: All children from the Spanish Royal family are baptized with water that comes straight from the Jordan river.

1. to 3. Presentation of Froilan.
4. to 7. Christening of Froilan.

 

[Mandy]

SPANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Juan Valentín de Todos los Santos

Parents: HRH Doña Cristina, Infanta of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca & Don Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert, Duke of Palma de Mallorca

Date of Birth: September 29th, 1999
Date of christening/baptism: December 12th, 1999
Place of christening/baptism: The Royal Chapel at the palace of La Zarzuela, Madrid
Godparents: Duchess Elena of Lugo and his paternal uncle Mikel Urdangarin y Liebaert.
The christening/baptism gown: As a tradition, Juan wore the same gown that was used by evey member of the Spanish Royal Family, since King Juan Carlos.

Other information of note: All children from the Spanish Royal family are baptized with water that comes straight from the Jordan river.

1. 2. Presentation of Juanito.
3. to 5. Christening of Juanito.

 

[Mandy]

SPANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Victoria Federica de Todos los Santos de Marichalar y de Borbon

Parents: HRH Doña Elena, Infanta of Spain and Duchess of Lugo & Don Jaime de Marichalar Saeñz y Tejada, Duke of Lugo

Date of Birth: September 9th, 2000, Madrid
Date of christening/baptism: October 11th, 2000
Place of christening/baptism: The Royal Chapel at the palace of La Zarzuela, Madrid
Godparents: Felipe, Prince of Asturias and her paternal aunt Ana de Marichalar
The christening/baptism gown: As a tradition, Victoria wore the same gown that was used by evey member of the Spanish Royal Family, since King Juan Carlos.

Other information of note: All children from the Spanish Royal family are baptized with water that comes straight from the Jordan river.

1. to 3. Presentation of Victoria Federica.
4. to 6. Christening of Victoria Federica.

 

[Mandy]

SPANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Pablo Nicolás Sebastián Urdangarín y de Borbón

Parents: HRH Doña Cristina, Infanta of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca & Don Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert, Duke of Palma de Mallorca

Date of Birth: December 6th, 2000, Barcelona
Date of christening/baptism: January 20th, 2001
Place of christening/baptism: The Royal Chapel at the palace of La Zarzuela, Madrid
Godparents: Princess Alexia of Greece and Prince Kubrat of Bulgaria
The christening/baptism gown: As a tradition, Pablo wore the same gown that was used by evey member of the Spanish Royal Family, since King Juan Carlos.

Other information of note: All children from the Spanish Royal family are baptized with water that comes straight from the Jordan river.

1. to 3. Presentation of Pablo.
4. to 7. Christening of Pablo.

 

[Mandy]

SPANISH ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Miguel Urdangarin y de Borbon

Parents: HRH Doña Cristina, Infanta of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca & Don Iñaki Urdangarín y Liebaert, Duke of Palma de Mallorca

Date of Birth: April 30th, 2002, Barcelona
Date of christening/baptism: June 23rd, 2002
Place of christening/baptism: The Royal Chapel at the palace of La Zarzuela, Madrid
Godparents: Felipe, Prince of Asturias and paternal aunt Lucía Urdangarín
The christening/baptism gown: As a tradition, Miguel wore the same gown that was used by evey member of the Spanish Royal Family, since King Juan Carlos.

Other information of note: All children from the Spanish Royal family are baptized with water that comes straight from the Jordan river.

1. to 3. Presentation of Miguel.
4. 5. Christening of Miguel.

 

[Mandy]

JAPANESE ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Princess Aiko of Japan, Princess Toshi

Parents: Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan

Date of Birth: 1st December, 2001
Place of birth: Hospital inside the grounds of the Imperial Palace, Tokyo
Date of christening/baptism:
Place of christening/baptism:
Godparents:

Other information of note:

At Birth
Shortly after her birth, court messengers placed a sword and purple silk robes by her pillow. The sacred Samurai sword, specially made by master blacksmiths and set in a crimson case, is symbolic proof that the child is a direct descendant of the royal dynasty. It represents the sword which legend has it was given to the founder of the imperial family by the Sun Goddess Amaterasu. Since the newborn is a girl she was also presented with a traditional "hakama", a pleated skirt.

At Seven Days
Imperial tradition has it that the current emperor name the children of his eldest son and heir. Emperor Akihito chose Aiko’s name for it’s meaning, “Child of Love.” Her title, Princess Toshi means “She who respects others.” Both names were written on traditional Japanese paper by Emperor Akihito himself and placed on Aiko’s pillow.

In a traditional ceremony, a royal attendant poured water over the baby princess in a cedar tub, as scholars in ancient court dress plucked at strings of wooden bows and a court-appointed official read passages from the ancient Nihon Shoki. The Nihon Shoki, which was completed in 720 AD, is the oldest official history of Japan.

At Three Months
Aiko took part in an ancient rite to give her a healthy life called Omiyamairi. Wearing garments given to her at her birth by her grandparents, Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko, she was presented to three shrines in the Imperial Palace grounds. There Aiko was held by a lady-in-waiting while her parents waited separately until the ritual was over. After the shrine visit, Aiko was formally presented to her grandparents as an official member of the imperial family. This ceremony included a ritual in which the Emperor and Aiko pretended to drink rice wine from a single cup.

References BBC News Online

1. to 4. Presentation of Aiko.
5. 6. Shrine Ritual.

 

[Mandy]

PORTUGUESE ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Afonso de Santa Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Herédia de Bragança

Parents: HRH Dom Duarte Pio João Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Bragança and HRH Dona Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia de Bragança

Date of birth: 25th March 1996
Date of christening/baptism: 1st June 1996
Place of christening/baptism: Braga


1. Baptism of Afonso:


2. Presentation of Afonso:

 

[Mandy]

PORTUGUESE ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Maria Francisca Isabel Micaela Gabriela Rafaela Paula de Herédia de Bragança

Parents: HRH Dom Duarte Pio João Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Bragança and HRH Dona Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia de Bragança

Date of birth: 3rd March 1997
Date of christening/baptism: 31st May 1997
Place of christening/baptism: Vila Viçosa

1. Christening of Maria Francisca.

 

[Mandy]

PORTUGUESE ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Dinis de Santa Maria Miguel Gabriel Rafael Francisco João de Herédia de Bragança

Parents: HRH Dom Duarte Pio João Miguel Gabriel Rafael de Bragança and HRH Dona Isabel Inês de Castro Curvelo de Herédia de Bragança

Date of birth: 25th November 1999
Date of christening/baptism: 19th February 2000
Place of christening/baptism: Porto

Christening thread:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=181814&postcount=53

1. Christening of Dinis.

 

[Mandy]

GREEK ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Maria-Olympia

Parents: Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal

Date of birth: 2 July 1996
Place of birth: New York
Date of christening: 22 December 1996
Place of christening:
Godparents: Prince Charles of Wales, Princess Alexia of Greece, Pia Getty, Prince Michael of Greece
Other information of note:

1. 2. Presentation of Maria-Olympia.
3. 4. Christening of Maria-Olympia.

 

[Mandy]

GREEK ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Konstantine-Alexios

Parents: Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal

Date of birth: October 29, 1998
Place of birth: New York
Date of christening: April 15, 1999
Place of christening:
Godparents: Prince Felipe of Spain, Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince William of Wales, Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Alexandra von Furstenberg, Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, Doris Robbs
Other information of note:

1. to 4. Christening of Konstantine-Alexios.

 

[Mandy]

GREEK ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Achilieas-Andreas

Parents: Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie Chantal

Date of birth: 12 August 2000
Place of birth: New York
Date of christening: 7 June 2001
Place of christening: London
Godparents: Infanta Elena of Spain, Princess Theodora of Greece, Prince Guillaume of Luxemborg, Prince Kardam of Bulgaria, Princess Rosario of Bulgaria, Prince Alexandre von Furstenberg
Other information of note:

1. 2. Presentation of Achilieas-Andreas.
3. to 5. Christening of Achilieas-Andreas.

 

[Mandy]

GREEK ROYALS


Full (christened) name: Arrietta Morales

Parents: Princess Alexia of Greece and Carlos Morales Quintana

Date of birth: 24 February 2002
Place of birth: Barcelona
Date of christening: 30 June 2002
Place of christening: Barcelona
Godparents: Princess Theodora of Greece, Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, Mrs Maria Teresa Morales Quintana, Philippos Stratos and Manuel Cabrera Cabreara.
Other information of note:

1. Presentation of Arrietta.
2. to 4. Christening of Arrietta.