The official christening photographs of 3-month-old Prince George, heir to the British throne, have been released. Shot by photographer Jason Bell at the Clarence House following the service, one photo features Prince George wearing a handmade replica of the royal christening robe, Kate Middleton clad in a cream-colored dress by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, and Prince William in a navy-blue suit.
Another image shows Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince George, sitting together. “That photo is a big deal — it's the first time since 1894 that a reigning British monarch is photographed with three generations of heirs,” royal expert Victoria Arbiter tells Yahoo Shine. The first image was taken during the christening of the future Edward VIII and included Queen Victoria, her son Edward VII, her grandson George V, and her great-grandson Edward VIII.
Bell, 44, is an award-winning photographer from Camden, London who has Hollywood roots. According to his website, the Oxford University graduate has photographed such celebrities as Claire Danes, David Beckham, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Blunt, Daniel Craig, and Nicole Kidman, among others, for Vanity Fair, Vogue, and other prestigious publications. His photographs have appeared in film posters including ones for “Billy Elliot,” “Love Actually,” and “Bridget Jones: 2.”
photo: Jason Bell/Camera Press/Redux
Bell was a natural choice because he's a prolific photographer and some of his work is on permanent display at the National Portrait Gallery, where Kate Middleton serves as a patron, says Arbiter. “Much of the royals' job is to support charities, museums, and organizations, so this was a nice tie-in between Kate’s private and personal life.”
The couple had no shortage of photographers they could have tapped for the big day — Patrick Demarchelier was said to be Princess Diana’s favorite photographer and Mario Testino shot Kate and William for their engagement photo in 2010. Instead of going with the big names, Arbiter says they likely wanted to shine a light on a less well-known British talent like Bell.
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