Baptism of Princess Estelle of Sweden
The newest royal heir of Sweden was baptized today at the royal chapel at Stockholm’s Royal Palace. Proud parents Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel had their three month old baby daughter, Princess Estelle christened in an event televised live throughout the country, plus a few other European nations.
Click here for gallery at Daylife.com
Victoria and Daniel were all smiles and very doting towards their firstborn child. The Prince held his daughter as he and the Crown Princess entered the chapel. Estelle was wearing the baptismal gown that has been worn by Swedish royals since the early 20th century.
The infant Princess was very alert and very calm during the ceremony. She only let out a burp when Bishop Anders Wejryd poured the water over her head. That made everyone giggle. By the way, the baptismal water is from the island of Öland, where the Swedish royals vacation in the summer.
Estelle’s godparents are Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary, Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon, her uncle, Prince Carl Philip, and Anna Westling Söderström, the sister of Prince Daniel.
After the official baptism was over, proud grandpa King Carl XVI Gustaf bestowed on the baby the Order of the Seraphim, which is given to members of the Swedish royal family and some other heads of state. The King himself was made a member of the Order during his baptism in 1946.
About 400 guests came the event, including Danish Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his fiancée, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy, and Princess Martha Louise and husband Ari Behn of Norway.
Also in attendance were the significant others of Victoria’s siblings – Sofia Hellqvist, girlfriend of Prince Carl Philip, and Chris O’Neill, boyfriend of Princess Madeleine. This was a major break in tradition as the partners of royals usually do not attend public royal events unless they are officially engaged.
After the christening, there was a reception at the royal palace.
Born on February 23, Princess Estelle Silvia Ewa Mary is second in line to the throne of Sweden.
I get the jitters when I see how Victoria holds Estelle. I hope she has a good grip on Estelle’s leg. Victoria might find out the hard way just how fast a baby can move and how quickly that baby can fall from your arms.
I think her grip just looks precarious (in that photo in particular) because of the long baptismal gown cascading down the front.
Thanks Megan, for this beutiful post.