Emma Tallulah Behn was recently christened in the Royal Chapel in Oslo. Here is a small look at the christenings of the Behn girls.
Maud Angelica was the first grandchild of the King and Queen, and the first female to be born with a right to the Norwegian throne, as reflected in the guest list, which had members of the Parliament on it. The publicity around the christening, which included a live transmission on NRK, reflected that it was the first of the newer generation.
She was christened by Bishop Gunnar Stålsett, on what would have been King Olav’s 100th birthday, July 2, 2003, and so the christening day also included other family events to commemorate the 100th birthday. VG said that it was a day when the historic lines of the monarchy was extra evident.
Maud Angelica Behn’s sponsors were King Harald, Crown Prince Haakon, Princess Alexandra von und zu Berleburg, Anja Sabrina Bjørshol (Ari’s sister), Marianne Ulrichsen (Märtha Louise’s cousin, best friend and maid of honour at the wedding), Kåre Conradi (Ari’s best man) and Trond Giske (friend of the couple, and Minister of culture.) King Harald, who had been ill for a lot of the year, carried her to the baptismal fount.
Princess Alexandra was not present at the ceremony, due to a pregnancy.
Maud Angelica, like her sisters, wore the special Christening gown that was made by Princess Ingeborg of Sweden, in 1920. All of Princess Ingeborg’s Norwegian descendants, save Princess Ingrid Alexandra, has worn this dress, and all the names of the wearers have been embroidered onto it.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit turned heads among royal watchers, with her feather duster of a hat. Two days later, it was revealed that the Crown Princess was expecting her second child
.
Pictures from Maud Angelica’s first year.
As a contrast, Leah Isadora’s christening was a bit more private. It was after the arrival of Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and thus the Behn girls were a bit further down the line of succession. It took place on June 16, 2005, in the Palace Chapel.
Where the guest list of Maud Angelica’s christening was more formal, reflecting that she was the first of the new generation, Leah’s had almost none representatives of the official Norway, but more celebrity friends of Märtha and Ari were present.
Bishop Ole Kristian Kvarme was the officiating minister. The chapel was decorated with Märtha lilies and Ingrid Alexandra roses.
Leah Isadora’s sponsors were: Queen Sonja, who carried her to the baptismal fount, Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, Katharina Salbu, Gry Brusletto, Espen Bjørshol, Didrik J. Vigsnæs and Jon Andreas Håtun.
Emma Tallulah Behn was christened on January 20, 2009, in the royal chapel. Officiating minister, Gunnar Næsheim , was from the local church in Lommedalen, where the family lives. This diverged from earlier tradition in the Royal Chapel, where it has traditionally been the Bishop of Oslo who have had monopoly on royal events.
Emma Tallulah was carried to the baptismal fount by her grandmother, Marianne Solberg Behn. The other sponsors were Crown Princess Mette-Marit, Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark, Christian Udnæss (Ari’s brother-in-law), Carl Christian Christensen, Anbjørg Sætre Håtun og Sigvart Dagsland.
Dagsland was one of the singers in Leah Isadora’s christening, and his wife, Karoline Krüger, sang in this christening.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Maud Angelica lit candles for Emma Tallulah during the ceremony.