A Buckingham Palace press release gave minimal information about today’s Windsor Christening of Viscount Severn, the Earl and Countess of Wessex’s second child, now four months old.

Viscount Severn with his parents soon after his birth

“The Christening of Viscount Severn will take place at the private chapel at Windsor on 19 April 2008. ”

In a note for editors, the private nature of the occasion is stressed :

This is a private Christening. However, one official photograph, taken by Mr John Swannell, will be released to the media via Camera Press.

The Christening Gown worn by Viscount Severn is a hand-made replica of Queen Victoria’s daughter’s Christening Gown, which was worn at subsequent Royal Christenings and has now been preserved. It is the first time this gown has been worn by a member of the Royal Family and was commissioned by The Queen.

James Alexander Philip Theo, who has the title Viscount Severn and is the Queen’s eighth grandchild, became the first member of the Royal Family to wear a replica of the royal Christening robe.

The new robe was commissioned to preserve the frail original by the Queen herself, and was made by her personal assistant Angela Kelly and the in-house dressmaking team at Buckingham Palace.

Close family members of Edward and Sophie were expected to attend the event including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The couple’s second child was born by caesarean section at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on December 17, weighing 6lb 2oz.

They have a four-year-old daughter, Lady Louise Windsor. James, the first male grandchild for the Queen and Prince Philip since the birth of Prince Harry 23 years ago, is eighth in line to the throne.