The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-11 00:00:00

CHRISTENING of THE PRINCESS

ROYAL.

The ceremony of christeniNg her Royal Highness
the Princess Royal took place ) esterday, in Bucking-
ham Palace, with every state and solemnity befitting the

occasion.
Half-past six o'clock was the hour fixed upon for
.the ceremony to take place; and the illustrious and
distinguished guests who were honoured with invita-
tions for the State banquet, given in honour of the
event, were invited for half-past six precisely.
Among the earlier arrivals at the Palace were his
Grace the Dukc of Wellington, who was received by
the band of the Coldstream Guards, who attended in
the Grand Hall, with "See, the conquering hero
comes!" Prince Esterhaxy (who wore a very rich
Hunearian costume, with the Stars of several Orders
of Knighthood, and the Ensigns of the Golden
Fleece) ; the Duchess of Sutherland, the Archbishops
of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of London, the
Duke of Norfolk (carrying his baton as Earl Mar-
shal) ; the Belgian and Saxon Ministers, Viscount
Melbourne, Lord Hill, Lind, John Russell, Earl of
Clarendon. Marquis of Norrnanby, Viscount Palmer-
ston, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Earl of
Minto.

Their Royal Highness% the Duke and Prince
George of Caa!bridge, attehcled by Baron Knesebeck,
arrived at '25 minutes past.: six o'clock; the Duke of
Sussex attended by Colonel- Wildman, the Duchess of
Gloucester, attended by Lady Caroline Legge, and the
-Duchess of Ken', attended; by Lady Fanny Howard
and Colonel Cowper, followed close afterwards.
Her Majesty the Que en Dowager came in State with
three carriages, accompanied by his Serene Highness
Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar, and attended by the
Countess of Sheffield, Hon. Miss Mitchell, Earl Howe,
Earl of Denbigh, and the Hon. William Ashley. Her
Majesty was received at the foot of the Grand Stair-
case by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, who con-
dueted her Majesty to the State Rooms. Her Ma-
jesty and the Royal family were received on alighting
from their carriages by the' Hon. Miss Murray and
Hon. Miss Lister, Maids of Honour in Waiting, Lady
Gardiner, Woman of the Bedchamber in Waiting,
Colonel Wemyss, Equerry in Waiting, Lord George
Lennox, Gentleman in Waiting on Prince Albert, nod
Colonel Wylde, Equerry to his R9yal Highness.
All the company appeared in full Court dress.
The Queen and Prince Albert: entered to the Green
Drawing-room at an early hour, attended by the Mis-
tress of the Robes, the Lady in Waiting, the Lord
Chamberlain. the Lord Steward, the Master of the
Horse, the Groom of the Stole to his Royal Highness
Prince Albert, the Treasurer of her Majesty's House-
hold, and the Comptroller of the Household. In this
apartment her Majesty and his Royal Highness received
their visitors.

A few minutes after the arrival of the Queen Dow.
ager, her Majesty and the entire party parsed into the
Throne Room. This saloon, the most magnificent of
the State apartments, was prepared with great splendour
fur the Christening. The throne had been removed,
and an altar erected in its place within the throne
alcove, the front and sides hung with crimson vel-
vet, very richly and elegantly ornamented with
broad gold lace. The back of the altar was fittel
in the same splendid style, bearing the initials IHS,
in the centre, embroidered in gold, and enriched with
deep rays. The back was finished will a curved gilt
border, forming an ellif t;c arch at the top. The gold
communion plate, from the Chapel Royal St. James's,
was arranged on the altar, a large gold salver being
placed in the middle, containing a fine representation in
alto relievo of " The Last Supper."
In front or, and a short distance from, the altar was
the Font, new for tho occasion, very elegant in its form,
and exquisitely finished. The base is divided into three
compartments, one 13,.aring the Arms of her Royal
Highness the Princess Royal, on a lozenge, with sup-
porters, and surmounted by her,Royal Highness's Co-
ronet, the others having the Arms of her Majesty and
Prince Albert embossed, over the Coats of Arms are
cherubs executed in full relief. The body of the Font
'takes therform of the water lily, and supports a large
shell, the rim of which on .the inside has small water
lilies floating on the edge.
The Font which was executed by Messrs. E. and
W. Smith is of silver gilt, tind the water which it con-
tained, and which was used for the ceremony, was brought
from the river Jordan. The Font was placed on a
handsome circular table of marble, having the Royal
Arms executed in Mosaic at the.top. The table itself
stood on a small raised platform placed on a large car-
pet
of crimson velvet, extending to the seats reserved
for the illustrious sponsors and visitors. The carpet
was embroidered with gold at the angles, and had
also a deep gold border. Candelabra on gilt pedestals
were on either side of the altar, and within the alcove
were two cut chandeliers; another chandelier of the
largest size was hung in the middle of the room, and
candelabra, on pedestals richly carved and gilt, lined
the sides of the apartments. The seats for the com-
pany were of crimson satin damask and gold.
His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury performed
the ceremony of christening the Princess Royal, assisted
by the,Archbishop of York, the Bishop of London, the
Bishop of Norwich, and the Dean of Carlisle.
The Queen and Prince .Albert were on the left of
his Grace. Her Majesty wore a splendid diadem of
brilliants, diamond earrings and necklace. Her Ma-
jesty also wore the ribaed and jewel of the Most Noble
Order of the Garter. His Royal Highness Prince
Albert was habited in a Field Marshal's uniform, and
wore brilliant Stars of the Orders of the Garter and the
Bath, and the Riband of the Order of the Garter.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex appeared in
military uniform, with the Ensigns of the Order of the
Garter, and also of the Most Ancient Order of the
Thistle. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge
was habited in a Field-Marshal's uniform, wearing stars
set in diamonds of the Orders of the Garter and the
Bath. His Royal Highness Prince George of Cam-
bridge wore the uniform of his Regiment, and his Se-
rene Highness Prince Edward of Saxo Weimar that of
a Cadet of the Royal Military College.
Opposite to her Majesty was the Duke of 'Wel-
lington, his Grace officiating as Sponsor on the part
of his Serene Highness the Duke of Saxe Coburg
and Gotha. The other Sponsors were—Her Ma-
jesty the Queen Dowager; her Royal Highness
the Duchess of Gloucester ; her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent ; his Majesty the King of the Bel-
gians, and his Royal Highness the Due of Sussex.
The Illustrious Party were ranged round the altar, and
the Duke and Prince George of Cambridge, and
Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar also occupied places
in the front. The Mistress of the Robes, and the
Great Officers of State, were behind her Majesty and
Prince Albert.
When the Archbishop of Canterbury came to that
part of the ceremony for naming the Princess, her
Royal Highness was given into his hands by her nurse,
her Majesty the Queen Dowager then named her
Royal Highness
VICTORIA ADELAIDE MARY LOUISA.
After the baptism the Princess was returned to her
nurse.

The service being, concluded, the party retired, and
shortly afterwards the whole of the company who had
witnessed or officiated at the ceremony, went to dinner,
which was served in the Picture Gallery, the band of
the Royal Regiment of Horse Guards, who were there
in attendance, playing " God save the Queen" as the
different members of the Royal Family entered the
Gallery.
The Gallery, as fitted up for the Royal Banquet,
presented a very elegant and splendid appearance. It
was shortened by the erection of a temporary partition
at each end, and at each was displayed a beaufet of
plate, containing a very numerous assortment of arti-
cles of the most costly and magnificent description.
The Shield of Achilles occupied the centre of one of
them, surrounded by large gold salvers, vases, sconces,
and candelabra ; the interstices between the more
massive articles being filled up with cups of crystal and
gold, lapis lazuli vases, tankards of ivory, most beauti-
fully carved, and mounted in gold, and articles of a
similar light and elegant description, many of them be-
ing enriched with precious stones, the whole being
brilliantly illuminated with wax-lights. The tables
was decorated with the Plateau, known as the " Prince
of Wales'a," having been made by order of George the
Fcurth, when Prince. On it were placed a
series of epergnes, containing artificial flowers,
caadelabra, and va e , al of silver gilt. In the
centre of the table was an immense cake, decorated
with flowers, and surmounted withahe car of Neptune
hearing Britannia, with the Princess Royal in her arms.
From the ceiling were suspended three chandeliers, and
on the table the candelabra bearing wax-lights were
very numerous. Among the pictures which decorated
the walls were some of the finest specimens of Rem-
brandt, including the " Burgomaster Pancras and his
\Vife ," " A Shipwright and his Wife ;" and " Woman
at the Tomb of Christ ;" the " Death of Dido," and
" Iphigenia," by Reynolds ; a vei'y brilliant study "The
Assumption of the Virgin," by Rubens ; a " Merry-
making," by Teniers ; the " Orphan," by Allan ; and
the " Healing the Sick," and the " Marriage of St.
Catherine," by Vandyke.
Inc same illustrious and distinguished assembly
who assisted at and witnessed the ceremony of Chris-
tening her Royal Highness the Princess Royal, were
also present at the State Banquet.
Tiie following had the honour of receiving invita-
tions :—Her Majesty the Queen Dowager, his Majesty
the King of the Bilgians, her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Gloucester, his Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex,
his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, his Royal
Highness Prince George of Cambridge, his Serene
Highness the Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar ; the
Mistress of the Robes, the Duchess of Sutherland ;
the Lady in Waiting on her Majesty, the Countess of
Mount Edgeeumbe ; the Lady in Waiting on the
Queen Dowager, the Countess of Sheffield ; the Lady
in Waiting on her Royal Highness the Duchess of
Kent, Lady Fanny Howard ; the Lady in Waiting on