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LONDON (AP) — Prince William and his wife, Kate, marked a milestone for their newborn baby Princess Charlotte on Sunday — a christening ceremony on Queen Elizabeth II’s country estate that was steeped in royal tradition.
Hundreds of fans outside St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, a sprawling royal estate near England’s eastern coast, cheered as William and Kate arrived with toddler Prince George and 9-week-old Charlotte, who was in a vintage pram.
It was only the second time Britain’s newborn princess, who is fourth in line to the throne, has been seen in public since she was born on May 2.
Charlotte was dressed for the occasion in a replica of the intricate lace-and-satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter, also named Victoria, in 1841. Until 2008, that original gown had been worn by all royal babies — including the queen — at their christenings.
Following royal tradition, holy water from the River Jordan, where it is said Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, was used for the baptism.
The 16th-century church, close to William and Kate’s country house Anmer Hall, is where the royal family traditionally gathers for Christmas service. It is also where Charlotte’s late grandmother, Princess Diana, was christened in 1961.
The ceremony was private — the queen, her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Kate’s family were among a small group of guests allowed inside. Guests also included five godparents that William and Kate chose for Charlotte, including William’s cousin Laura Fellowes, Kate’s cousin Adam Middleton, and three of the couple’s friends.
Fans from as far afield as Australia and the U.S. patiently lined up outside the church, hoping to get a glimpse of the baby as the royals arrive and leave.
Laurie Spencer, 52, from Florida, said she decided to give up a ticket for the British Grand Prix to be at Sandringham instead.
“When I found out the christening was happening while we were here I knew I just had to be there,” she said.
Sunday’s event saw William, Kate, George and Charlotte appear in public for the first time as a family of four. Celebrity photographer Mario Testino will take official photos of the royal family after the service.
HGTV relies on relationships for good TV
NEW YORK (AP) — HGTV is working the buddy system.
The home-and-garden network has upped the number of shows with co-hosts who are related or married to five, adding “America’s Most Desperate Kitchens,” hosted by cousins Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri, to its lineup of shows hosted by spouses, siblings and other assorted relatives.
Keeping it all in the family is deliberate: “The natural conversation and exchanges between them as experts with a pre-existing relationship engages audiences,” said HGTV general manager Allison Page.
The lifestyle network’s top show “Brother vs Brother,” starring brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott fixing houses for resale, averaged 2.5 million viewers this season — a 47 percent increase over last year’s viewership, according to Nielsen ratings.
Carrino and Colaneri are back with their fourth HGTV show this summer. In their newest offering, the duo renovates kitchens in homes across the country. Colaneri said they enjoy being able to portray their relationship exactly as it is without any amped-up drama.
“We are first cousins, best friends and we are almost like brothers,” Colaneri said.
Their first HGTV gig hosting “Kitchen Cousins” came out of the blue: They got the surprise call from the network 10 months after a friend sent in a video she made of them.
“I don’t think for one second we ever thought this is something we can do,” Carrino said.
Page said the network’s audience is mostly women, but they have worked to expand it. Since hosting on HGTV, Carrino said, “Big burly union electrical workers” have come up to him saying, “Can I get a picture? I love your show.”
Page said the two-host system helps diversify the demographic of the audience, especially when each of the hosts has a different expertise. She said “the shows that focus on physical construction and decoration appeal to both” men and women.
“Our fans stretch from young children to adults,” Colaneri said. “There is always someone who comes up to you that you would never expect”
