Prince Gabriel christened in a traditional ceremony

The Swedish royals were out in force to celebrate the newest member of the family Prince Gabriel at his traditional christening on Friday.

Proud parents Pince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia welcomed their friends and family to the Drottingholm Palace Chapel in the Swedish town of Drottingholm.

Doting Sofia beamed with pride as she held her youngest son inside the chapel while her husband Prince Carl Philip had their eldest son Prince Alexander on his lap.

Proud parents Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden (pictured with King Carl Gustaf) held the christening for their youngest son Gabriel at the rottingholm Palace Chapel on Friday

Former glamour model Sofia looked elegant in traditional Swedish dress consisting of the red and white folk costume complete with an embroidered cap that many natives of the country will be familiar with.

Carl Philip wore the ceremonial dress traditionally worn by the male members of the family on special occasions complete with a light blue ceremonial sash.

Gabriel, who was born in August and is sixth in line to the throne, wore the same cotton and lace gown that has been passed through generations of the Swedish royals including his father Prince Carl Philip and his aunties Victoria and Madeleine.

Gabriel wore the same cotton and lace gown that has been passed through generations of the Swedish royals and was baptised in with water from a spring on the Swedish island of Öland

Gabriel wore the same cotton and lace gown that has been passed through generations of the Swedish royals and was baptised in with water from a spring on the Swedish island of Öland

Doting Sofia wore traditional Swedish folk costume for the event while Prince Carl Philip wore ceremonial dress while caring for their eldest son Prince Alexander 

Doting Sofia wore traditional Swedish folk costume for the event while Prince Carl Philip wore ceremonial dress while caring for their eldest son Prince Alexander 

The lining of the gown has the names and dates of all its previous wearers embroidered on it and has been worn by each royal infant since  Prince Gustaf Adolf first wore it in 1906. 

His older brother one-year-old Alexander looked adorable in a miniature navy sailor suit as he sat patiently on his father’s lap.

The service was conducted by archbishop Archbishop Anders Wejryd at the chapel just outside of the family’s home of Stockholm.

As is tradition the young prince was baptised with water from a spring on the Swedish island of Öland, a custom implemented by the present king and queen, the child’s grandparents.

The service was conducted by archbishop Archbishop Anders Wejryd at the chapel who seemed unfazed by a somewhat fussy Prince Gabriel

The service was conducted by archbishop Archbishop Anders Wejryd at the chapel who seemed unfazed by a somewhat fussy Prince Gabriel

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia were the picture of proud grandparents as they witnessed their youngest grandchild’s christening.

The doting grandfather could be seen supporting Gabriel’s head as he lay in Sofia’s arms during the ceremony on Friday.  

Also in attendance today were the prince’s godparents in the form of Carl Philip’s sister Princess Madeleine of Sweden, his cousin, Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath and Sofia’s sister Sara Hellqvist.

The couple also enlisted close friends as secondary godparents with Sofia’s friend Carolina Pihl, Carl Philip’s friend and business partner Oscar Kylberg, also given the honour.

Prince Gabriel Carl Walther, Duke of Dalecarlia was born on 31st August at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm.

The baby’s middle name was chosen in honour of his parental grandfather while Walther is the name of Queen Silvia’s late father. 

The little prince’s name was officially announced during a meeting at the Royal Palace in Stockholm between Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, Crown Princess Victoria and King Carl Gustaf.  

Following the ceremony  the king and queen will host a reception at Drottningholm Palace. A 21-gun salute will be fired from Skeppsholmen and from the HMS Kullen outside the palace. 

And rather than ask for gifts the proud parents have asked guests to make a donation to their royal foundation and Sofia’s Project Playground.

Project Playground is a Swedish non-profit organization aiming to improve the life opportunities of children and youth through organised social activities and sports with focus on the individual. 



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