16:38
Tieng Anh Vui
The Archbishop of Canterbury has said he hopes the "extraordinary" baptism of Prince George will inspire others to seek the same ceremony.
The Most Rev Justin Welby will perform the christening at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace on Wednesday.
In a YouTube film released ahead of the service, Archbishop Welby said he hoped people would not view baptism as only for a future king or "special people".
"All babies are unbelievably special, not only royal babies," he said.
The prince, who was born on 22 July at St Mary's Hospital in London, is the son of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and is third in line to the throne.
His baptism will take place at 15:00 BST in the Chapel Royal and will last about 45 minutes.
Last month it was announced the current Archbishop would perform the private service.
In the film, which was also posted on the Lambeth Palace website, Archbishop Welby said the baptism of Prince George was "hugely important".
"As a nation we're celebrating the birth of someone who in due course will be the head of state.
"That's extraordinary. It gives you this sense of forward looking, of the forwardness of history as well as the backwardness of history, and what a gift to have this new life and to look forward," he said.
'Amazing gift'
But he said Prince George would be joining two billion people around the world in the "family of the church" when he was baptised, adding "the great good news is that God doesn't care who we are".
"It's for adults and children. And there may be people wondering: 'I wonder if that's at all possible for me or for my family or for my child or for all of us together?' And the answer is it's not just possible, it's extremely easy.
"God's love is offered without qualification, without price, without cost, to all people in all circumstances always," he said.
Archbishop Welby said the royal couple would have received so much advice that they could "probably fill a house with it".
But he said his message to them would be "what a treat, what an amazing gift, what wonderful times that you will have".
He went on: "There'll be great times and tough times - there always are with children.
"Through christening you're bringing God into the middle of it all, and I know that when he's in the middle of it all somehow it's held in his hands - and that's extraordinary."
The Archbishop of Canterbury has already spoken of his joy at being asked to conduct the christening, which he said was a "great privilege and honour".
And it is not the first time he has released a film on YouTube. He recorded a video on the significance of marriage before the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were married at Westminster Abbey in April 2011.
Photographs
Princess Beatrice was the last well known royal baby to be christened in the Chapel Royal, in December 1988.
In 1997, the coffin of Prince William's mother Diana, Princess of Wales, lay in the chapel before her funeral in Westminster Abbey.
Prince George will be christened in a replica of the intricate lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria, the Princess Royal, in 1841.
The guest list for the christening has not been released but Kensington Palace has said "close members of both families" will attend.
The names of Prince George's godparents are also yet to be announced.
Following the christening, a picture will be released showing the Queen with three future monarchs - the Prince of Wales, Prince William and Prince George.
Meanwhile, the Royal Mint is to create a set of commemorative coins to mark the christening.
Đăng ký: Tieng Anh Vui
Posted in: 
0 comments:
Post a Comment