A solemn rite mixed with joy

The christening ritual is a mixture of history and tradition with some new twists. The chapel has historical links as the christening place of the last King Christian of Denmark. The royal baptismal font dates from 1671 and the christening gown of Brussels lace dates from 1870. The music is a mix of the classical and the new. Danish musician Fuzzy has written a new piece, a 'Fanfare', which is played as CP Frederik and CPss Mary enter the chapel with their newborn prince.



The order of service and details of the christening ceremony

The bishop of the Diocese of Copenhagen, Erik Norman Svendsen, will conduct the christening ceremony.

Participants:
The Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir, conducted by the cathedral precentor Ebbe Munk.
Organist Jakob Lorentzen, Holmens Church (organ).
The Brass Ensemble of the Royal Quards.
Helen Davies Mikkelborg and Tine Rehling (harps).
The Choir of Holmens Church.
The Compositions of Palle Mikkelborg and Fuzzy (Jens Wilhelm Pedersen) are dedicated to the new born Prince.

While the guests take their places in the church as well as during the ceremony, Organist Jakob Lorentzen will improvise on the organ and The Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir will sing music composed by P.E. Lange-Müller, Michael Prætorius and Niels la Cour.

As Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness the Prince Consort enter the church, „Kyrie“ by Pierluigi de Palestrina will be sung by the Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir.

Baptism
Praise and prayer
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Let us pray:
We thank you, heavenly Father, that through your only-begotten Son you have given us holy baptism in which you make us your children and give us the Holy Spirit, with the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. We pray you, receive into your grace this child whom we bring before you. Make him a member of your church. Keep him in your fellowship on earth and in heaven.
Amen.

Readings
Our Lord Jesus Christ says, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

The evangelist Mark writes,
People were bringing little children to Jesus in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.’ And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Let us therefore help this child to receive his blessing by baptizing him in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Sign of the Cross
Receive the sign of the Holy Cross upon your brow and upon your heart as witness that you belong to the crucified Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the child’s name? – [Mary replied "Christian Valdemar Henri John"]

The creed
N., do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways? – I do.

Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? – I do.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only-begotten Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried, descended into hell, rose again on the third day, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, whence he will come again to judge the living and the dead? – I do.

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the eternal life? – I do.

Will you be baptized into this faith? – I will.

N., I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has now borne you again by water and the Holy Spirit, and has given you the remission of sin, may he strengthen you with his grace until eternal life. He preserve your going out and your coming in now and forever more. Amen.

The Lord’s prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen.

Peace be with you.

Address to the Godparents
Parents and godparents of this child, you are now witnesses that he is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Parents, you must bring up your child in the christian faith and pray for him that he may remain in Christ, even as he has been grafted unto him through baptism. And should the parents die before the child comes of age, then you, the godparents, as far as it is in your power, must see that he is brought up in the christian faith.

Peace be with you.
Source: kronprinsparret.dk

Floral Decorations in Christiansborg Palace Chapel
Amalienborg, 21st January 2006

Christiansborg Palace Chapel, as it appears today, was built in the neo-classical style, and the floral decorations in connection with the Royal Christening have been made with inspiration drawn from early spring and the delicate, warm play of colours of the Palace Chapel. The decoration of the Palace Chapel has been carried out in cooperation between Her Majesty The Queen, Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess and Palaces and Properties Agency staff members that are connected with Fredensborg Palace Gardens.

The porch:
Eight cone-shaped laurel trees from the Orangery in Fredensborg Palace Gardens.

The interior of the Palace Chapel:
Two Viburnum tinus (Laurustinus) shrubs with white, fragrant flowers.
The viburnums, which are two-and-a-half-metre-tall, are placed immediately before the doors on either side of the entrance. Together with rhododendron from the Palace Gardens, the white viburnum flowers are to be found again in the decorations of the box pews.

The rows of pews:
Grape hyacinths and narcissi

The choir:
Blue and white French anemones
White lilac flowers
Agapanthus (blue African lilies)
Light and dark narcissi
Blue and white grape hyacinths
White fragrant jasmine vines
Eucalyptus

The altar:
Narcissi
Pale blue and dark blue hyacinths
Blue and white grape hyacinths
White fragrant jasmine flowers
Eucalyptus

Source: The Danish Monarchy