Pink for a girl! Etiquette expert analyses official royal christening photos, where Queen honours Princess Charlotte in pink outfit, while Middletons look 'middle class'

  • Kensington Palace released pictures of Princess Charlotte's christening 
  • The main picture features the royal family and the Middletons 
  • Etiquette expert William Hanson examines the fashion and positioning 

The official pictures of Princess Charlotte's royal christening will be examined by history buffs for years to come, so it's important to get the look right.

The portraits of the family have already been well received since they were released by Kensington Palace earlier this afternoon, with royal fans praising the appearance of both the royal family and the Middletons.

But reading between the lines, is there more to this picture than meets the eye? 

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The first official family picture of baby Charlotte's christening. Back row (L-R) Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Edinburgh. Front row (L-R) Prince William, Prince George, the Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and the Queen

The first official family picture of baby Charlotte's christening. Back row (L-R) Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Edinburgh. Front row (L-R) Prince William, Prince George, the Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and the Queen

Since Prince George's christening in 2013, there have been considerable changes in the positioning of the participants in the photograph. 

At George's christening, Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry were in the middle of the back row, while on Charlotte's big day Carole Middleton has taken centre stage. 

Etiquette expert William Hanson says rather than following any royal protocol, it was actually an attempt by Mario Testino to breaking up the 'safe' colour code that the Middleton women opted for on the day.

He told FEMAIL: 'The positioning will have come from the photographer.

'In terms of the positioning, you have to have the queen sitting down because she’s the queen and an old lady.  

'In terms of Pippa not being in the middle, it is perhaps because she was wearing something quite similar to her sister.'

The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed in The Morning Room at Clarence House in 2013 

The official portrait for the christening of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge, photographed in The Morning Room at Clarence House in 2013 

He continued: 'There would have been a big band in the middle of cream, so this is much better for the sake of colour composition. 

'I think the Middleton ladies all have very similar colouring and they’re wearing clothes that suit that, but I think it’s a bit safe that they chose to wear the same colours. 

'We have some lovely strong colours in that photo from Camilla and the Queen, even in the tie that Prince Charles is wearing. 

'The Queen has opted for pink this time, in reflection of the fact it is a girl's christening, whereas for Prince George she wore blue.  

'But with the cream walls in the drawing room and cream guests, it’s all quite middle class. 

'It's like when you go to many middle class homes and everything's beige as it’s not going to offend anybody.'

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte

he Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte

William also had some choice words for the Middletons' style of headwear.

He said: 'The Middleton clan do like wearing these hats that aren’t quite hats.

'They used to wear fascinators but are now a bit bigger than that. 

'Certainly for Carole who is slightly older, you can’t go wrong with a traditional hat - it’s more becoming as you get older.

'If the Queen was wearing one of those Frisbees she'd look ridiculous. 

'I love the Duchess of Cornwall’s style of hat, she has been wearing a lot of those that have a jaunty angle and they always work very well.'

Kate with her daughter Charlotte 

Kate with her daughter Charlotte 

He added: 'It is unfortunate that Her Majesty is the only one correctly wearing gloves, all of the other ladies should be wearing them too. 

'If you’re wearing a hat at a wedding or a christening then you should also wear gloves.' 

But despite a few hiccups, William Hanson believes that the official photo is 'very lovely.' 

He said: 'It is a very lovely picture. It was a family day first and foremost and that comes across.'  

 

 

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