de bene esse: Prince George christened in replica of 1841 gown made for Queen Victoria's first daughter - and used for every Royal christening since

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

Prince George was today christened wearing a delicate lace gown that is an exact replica of one worn 172 years ago by Queen Victoria's first born.

When he was welcomed into the faith by the Arch Bishop of Canterbury today, George wore an ivory gown made of delicate Honiton lace and white satin, worn before him by every baby born to the British Royal family since 1841.

Royal babies were traditionally, until 2004, christened wearing the intricate lace and satin gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter, Victoria, Princess Royal in 1841 and used for generation after generation of royal infants including the Queen’s father King George VI, the Queen, Charles, William, Prince Harry, with Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor the last royal baby to wear it in 2004.

Heritage: Queen Victoria in 1894 at the christening of her great-grandson, the future King Edward VIII (1894 - 1972), with the baby's mother Mary of Teck, above left, and the baby's grandmother Alexandra, daughter of Victoria - 53 years after the dress was first worn by Alexandra, right

Traditionally a family photograph with the baby in its robe is released to the media.

Crafted from layers of delicate, hand-made Honiton lace and ivory satin, it was used for all royal christenings until 2004 when Queen Elizabeth decided the gown was past its prime and ordered an exact replica to be crafted by her personal dressmaker.

An entire team of seamstresses set to work at Buckingham Palace to recreate the intricate bows and high collar of the original gown, and it was first used for the christening of James, Viscount Severn, son of Prince Edward and Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex, in 2008.

Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother pictured with Queen Elizabeth after her christening

One of the earliest portraits of Queen Elizabeth II taken in 1926 when she was only a few days old

A Royal christening is an important occasion - both socially and spiritually.

Prince George's Royal Mint

The Royal Mint have produced a coin to celebrate the Christening Of Prince George

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have given their approval to the first ever royal christening coins created in the UK.

The special coins, which have been produced by the Royal Mint in Llantrisant, South Wales, go on sale today to mark the christening of the couple's son, Prince George.

The design features the Lily Font from the Tower of London and two harp-playing cherubs.

At the foot of the coin is the royal motto "Dieu et mon droit" - God and my right.

The £5 coin is available in silver - because the crossing of a baby's palm with silver is said to confer good health and prosperity to newborns - and gold - to commemorate the royal celebration.

Not only does it reinforce the family's faith, but in the case of Prince George, who is in direct line to the throne, it has more significance.

As a future king, George will become Protector of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England and therefore must be a full, confirmed member of the religion.

Such was the significance of baby George’s christening that the duty fell to the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby - leader of the 77-million strong Anglican Communion - to carry out the ceremony.

The event is also a key gathering for those in the royal inner circle. Mostly held in private, away from the public and the media, royal christenings are usually attended only by family, godparents and close friends - the people who will directly influence the Prince as he grows up.

George is the first future monarch in modern times not to be baptised at Buckingham Palace, with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge choosing the intimate Chapel Royal at St James’s Palace instead.

William and the Prince of Wales were both christened in Buckingham Palace’s Music Room. The Queen, who was not expected to be queen when born, was christened in the Palace’s private chapel in 1926.

But Edward VIII, who later abdicated, was baptised at White Lodge in Richmond Park in 1894 and his brother George VI, who was not expected to be king, was christened at the Church of St Mary Magdalene close to the Sandringham estate in 1895.

George is three months old - older than his father, grandfather and great-grandmother were when they were christened. William was baptised on August 4 1982 at the age of six weeks, while the Prince of Wales was one month and one day old at his own christening. The Queen was just over five weeks old when she was christened.

Although there are usually official christening pictures released to the public - in this case, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen renowned showbiz photographer Jason Bell to take the photos - the ceremony itself is a private affair.

A notable exception to the usual privacy surrounding royal christenings is that of Princess Eugenie in 1990.

Nine-month-old Eugenie was baptised during morning service at the church of St Mary Magdalene at Sandringham just before Christmas in 1990.

The christening was broadcast by loudspeaker across the royal estate at Sandringham, Norfolk.

Queen Elizabeth II and baby Prince Charles, and with Prince Philip, left, in 1948 after Charles' christening in Buckingham Palace. Charles is wearing the traditional Honiton lace and white satin gown

Prince Charles, current heir to the throne, after his christening in 1948, which, like most royal christenings, was a private affair

Microphones relayed the service to a crowd of 2,000 outside the church.

'It was a lovely family occasion, a truly happy day,' said the Bishop of Norwich, the Rev Peter Nott, who conducted the 50-minute service.

Queen Elizabeth, meanwhile, was baptised by the Anglican Archbishop of York, Cosmo Gordon Lang, in the private chapel of Buckingham Palace, on 29 May 1921.

Prince William was christened in the Music Room at Buckingham Palace on 4 August 1982, while Prince Harry was christened in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in 1984.

Royal christenings have not always been plain sailing. At Queen Victoria’s in 1819, there was a dispute over what she should be called.

Her mother the Duchess of Kent had wanted to call her Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Alexandrina Victoria, but was overruled by a cantankerous Prince Regent, the future George IV, who dictated during the ceremony that she be called Alexandrina Victoria instead in tribute to the Russian Tsar Alexander I.

The Duchess was left distraught and broke down sobbing during the proceedings.

The then Princess Elizabeth with husband Prince Phillip and their children Prince Charles and Princess Anne on her christening day in 1951

The christening of Prince William took place privately in the music room of Buckingham Palace, before the official photographers were taken (L-R) Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Princess Diana holding baby William, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother

A doe-eyed Prince Harry in 1984 before his christening

The Duke of York and Duchess of York leaving the Chapel Royal with Princess Beatrice after her christening

The royal family leave Princess Eugenie's christening, which took place on the Royal Sandringham estate in 1990, and was one of the few to be shared with the local public around the estate

Prince Edward and Sophie Countess of Wessex hold their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, in 2003

James, Viscount Severn, was the first royal to wear the replica gown commissioned by Queen Elizabeth to replace the 172-year-old one made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841

What's in a (Royal) face? Snap shots of Royal babies through the ages

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh with sons Prince Andrew, right, Prince Charles, centre back, Prince Edward and daughter Princess Anne in the garden at Frogmore Estate, Berkshire