Prince George’s christening is to be an intimate affair his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, have decided.

According to the Daily Mail, Princess Anne and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are missing invites, as the royal couple wish to keep the ceremony a quiet family occasion.

The three-month-old will be baptised in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace - where Princess Diana lay before her funeral - on October 23.

William and Kate chose to have George christened in the small chapel instead of the traditional setting of Buckingham Palace.

A royal spokesman said: "It was the couple's personal preference of where they wanted the service. It's a lovely chapel, it has a warm feeling."

The paper also claims George's great-uncles, princes Andrew and Edward, will not attend.

Kensington Palace has refused to comment, but the Daily Mail quoted a royal source as saying: "The christening will be a small, intimate and personal family affair."

Pippa Middleton and Prince Harry are rumoured to be Prince George's godparents

The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the service and George will wear a replica of the lace and satin christening gown made for Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Victoria in 1841.

Kate's sister Pippa and Prince Harry are favourites to take on the role of godparents.

Other names suggested for godparents include the royal couple's Private Secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, William's best friend Thomas van Straubenzee and ex-royal nanny Tiggy Legge-Bourke.