Breaking away from royal tradition, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton have chosen school and university friends to be godparents to their son, Prince George. The choice has been a matter of widespread speculation since the time the baby was born.

Media reports said that Fergus Boyd, Prince William's school friend, and Emilia d'Erlanger, Kate's Marlborough College friend, have been selected for the honour of baby Prince George's christening. The Sunday Times reports that one of Prince William's oldest childhood friends, Hugh van Cutsem, will also be a godfather to Prince George.

The 31-year-old Mr Boyd was at the same St Andrews hall of residence as the couple during their first year and studied history of art with Kate. Reports say he is now a partner at fund management firm Smith & Williamson. The three moved into a flat together during their second year and have remained firm friends ever since. Mr Boyd also lived at Balgove House with the couple for their final two years at the university.

Ms D'Erlanger, 31, is the co-founder of London-based interior design company d'Erlanger and Sloan. She is also a long-term friend of William as well as a school-friend of Kate. Ms D'Erlanger is married to David Jardine-Paterson who is also a friend of William's from Eton.

Mr van Cutsem, 39, is the best known of the three and one of William's oldest friends, with close links to the royals. William was an usher at Mr van Cutsem's wedding in 2005 to Rose Astor. He is also godfather to their daughter Grace, who was a flower girl at the Willian-Kate wedding.

The couple's choice of childhood friends to be godparents is a stark contrast to royal traditions. William's own godparents were the former King Constantine of Greece, Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy, the Duchess of Westminster, Lady Susan Hussey, Lord Romsey and Sir Laurens van der Post.

As Oct 23, the date of Prince George's christening approaches, rumours have been rife about who will or will not be there on the invitee list.

"We are not giving details of the guest list at this stage," the couple's spokesperson was quoted as saying.

"All we are saying is that it will be a small intimate affair with close family and others, which include godparents."

Keeping it an intimate affair, the ceremony will be held in Chapel Royal in St James's Palace and not at the traditional venue, the music room at Buckingham Palace.