The outfit that Princess Charlotte is likely to wear at her christening on Sunday 5 July is interwoven with eight generations of royal history. She will be the latest Windsor baby to be seen in the beautiful lace confection, which is a replica of the one used by Queen Victoria's children. Her brother Prince George also wore the gown created by the Queen's personal dresser Angela Kelly after the original became too fragile for use.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrincess Charlotte will be christened on Sunday 5 July
At the ceremony in October 2013, George looked adorable held by his mother the Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, at the service in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace. A team of seamstresses had spent hours recreating the intricate bows and high collars of the original.
The Victorian version was made of Honiton lace over ivory Spitalfields silk and was modelled on the dress worn by the Queen on her marriage to Prince Albert in 1840. The sovereign commissioned it after the birth of her daughter Victoria the following year.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe baby Princess will wear a replica of the gown worn by Queen Victoria's children
Worn by a record 62 babies, including the current Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William, the gown would be handwashed in spring water after each airing and then packed away. In 2004, it was put out of service for good.
James Viscount Severn, the son of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, was the first royal baby to wear the new one. Further appearances followed at the baptisms of Peter Phillips' children Savannah and Isla.
Prince George wore it at his christening in October 2013
It is not known if it was brought out for the christening of Mia Tindall, the daughter of Peter's sister Zara and her husband Mike Tindall.
The ceremony in November 2014 was an extremely private affair that was not announced to the media. Although the occasion was reported by an ITV correspondent who spotted the Queen at the church in the Gloucestershire area, five minutes from the couple's home on the Gatcombe Park estate.
Buckingham Palace seamstresses painstakingly recreated the high collar and bows of the original
It's thought the date for Charlotte's special day has been chosen so the celebration takes place before her great-grandmother leaves for her annual summer holiday in Balmoral.
It will take place near Prince William and Kate's home Anmer Hall and will also have a connection to his mother. The family will gather in St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham where Princess Diana was also christened.
