Royals announce christening date

Lady Louise Windsor with parents the Earl and Countess of Wessex

Lady Louise Windsor, the Queen's latest grandchild, is to be christened later this month at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The six-month-old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex will be baptised in the castle's chapel on 24 April.

Lady Louise was born four weeks early on 8 November 2003, weighing 4lbs 9oz.

Prince Edward missed the birth as he was on a state visit to Mauritius but flew home immediately to be with his wife Sophie and their new daughter.

The baby was taken initially to the neo-natal unit of St George's Hospital in Tooting, South London, for special care.

She was moved back to Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey, on 13 November, from where Sophie was discharged on 19 November.

The youngster left hospital with her parents four days later and Sophie described it as "the best day ever".

Society photographer Lord Patrick Lichfield, the Queen's cousin, will take the official christening photograph.

Lady Louise will have five godparents, they are:

• Lady Sarah Chatto, daughter of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, and the earl's cousin

• Lord Ivor Mountbatten, grandson of Lord Mountbatten of Burma, and also the earl's cousin

• Lady Alexandra Etherington, another of the earl's cousins

• Francesca Schwarzenbach, a friend of both Edward and Sophie

• Rupert Elliott, Cambridge University friend of the earl