Swedish royals gather for Princess Adrienne’s christening

Swedish nobility have gathered in Drottningholm to welcome the newest member of the royal family.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and husband Christopher O’Neill are christening their third child, a little girl named Adrienne who was born three months ago and is tenth-in-line to the throne.

Madeleine, 35, was among the first arrivals while her older sister Crown Princess Victoria was spotted making her way to the opulent Drottningholm Palace Chapel, near Stockholm, in a private car on Friday morning.

The proud mother put on a glamorous display, wearing a pink and white floral chiffon frock with a traditional flower crown, as she joined Archbishop Antje Jackelen who conducted the service.

The family were joined by godparents Anouska d’Abo, Coralie Charriol Paul, Nader Panahpour, Gustav Thott, Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund and Natalie Werner – along with officiants Chief Court Chaplain Bishop Johan Dalman and Pastor of the Royal Court Parish Michael Bjerkhagen.

Proud mother Madeleine (pictured with baby Adrienne) was among the first arrivals while her older sister Crown Princess Victoria was spotted making her way to the opulent Drottningholm Palace Chapel in a private car

Here comes auntie Victoria! Madeleine's older sister, Crown Princess Victoria, arrives at the chapel on Friday morning with husband Prince Daniel and daughter Princess Estelle

Here comes auntie Victoria! Madeleine’s older sister, Crown Princess Victoria, arrives at the chapel on Friday morning with husband Prince Daniel and daughter Princess Estelle

Crown Princess Victoria, who is first in line to the Swedish throne to succeed her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf. She wore a pretty floral dress as she arrived in Drottningholm this morning with lookalike daughter Princess Estelle, left

Crown Princess Victoria, who is first in line to the Swedish throne to succeed her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf. She wore a pretty floral dress as she arrived in Drottningholm this morning with lookalike daughter Princess Estelle, left

According to tradition, the young princess will likely be 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. 

Politicians including Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Centre Party leader Annie Loof also gathered at the chapel on Friday morning.

And as Sweden basked in 20 degree sunshine it all proved too much for some of the Royal Guards on duty, with one officer dramatically fainting in the heat.

Adrienne’s birth in March was greeted by a 21-gun salute from Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, and from saluting stations in Gothenburg, Härnösand, Karlskrona and Boden.

The princess’s full name was officially announced in March by her grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf in a Council of State meeting, who revealed she will be known as Adrienne Josephine Alice, theDuchess of Blekinge.

Princess Madeleine, 35, and her husband Chris O’Neill chose Adrienne as it’s a name they love, the couple said.

Josephine is a traditional moniker in Madeleine’s family and is also her fourth name, while Alice is the name of Adrienne’s great-grandmother, Alice Sommerlath, the mother of Queen Silvia.

Princess Adrienne was the third royal baby to arrive in the space of two weeks, when she was born at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm in the early hours of 9th March. 

Officiant Archbishop Antje Jackelen holds princess Adrienne during princess Adrienne's christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel this morning

Officiant Archbishop Antje Jackelen holds princess Adrienne during princess Adrienne’s christening ceremony in Drottningholm Palace Chapel this morning

Welcome addition: The princess's full name was officially announced in March by her grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf in a Council of State meeting, who revealed she will be known as Adrienne Josephine Alice, the Duchess of Blekinge

Welcome addition: The princess’s full name was officially announced in March by her grandfather King Carl XVI Gustaf in a Council of State meeting, who revealed she will be known as Adrienne Josephine Alice, the Duchess of Blekinge

Little princess: Adrienne was the third royal baby to arrive in the space of two weeks, when she was born at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm in the early hours of March 9

Little princess: Adrienne was the third royal baby to arrive in the space of two weeks, when she was born at Danderyd Hospital in Stockholm in the early hours of March 9

Royal connections: Madeleine (centre, with baby Adrienne) is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant

Royal connections: Madeleine (centre, with baby Adrienne) is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant

Madeleine was joined by godparents Anouska d'Abo, Coralie Charriol Paul, Nader Panahpour, Gustav Thott, Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund and Natalie Werner - along with officiants Chief Court Chaplain Bishop Johan Dalman and Pastor of the Royal Court Parish Michael Bjerkhagen

Madeleine was joined by godparents Anouska d’Abo, Coralie Charriol Paul, Nader Panahpour, Gustav Thott, Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund and Natalie Werner – along with officiants Chief Court Chaplain Bishop Johan Dalman and Pastor of the Royal Court Parish Michael Bjerkhagen

In a statement, the Swedish Royal Court described the newborn as ‘a healthy child’ and said that ‘mother and baby are doing well’.

‘We are delighted with the new addition to our family,’ Chris, 43, said in a statement. ‘Leonore and Nicolas have their long-awaited sibling. They can’t wait to meet their new baby sister.’

The new baby is a sibling for Princess Leonore, four, and Prince Nicolas, two, and is the latest in a spate of royal births.

Princess Madeleine famously met her husband after fleeing to the US in 2010 with a broken heart; she crossed the Atlantic following the breakdown of her first engagement to Swedish attorney Jonas Bergstrom amid speculation that he had cheated on her. 

Safety fears: As Sweden basked in 20 degree sunshine on Friday it all proved too much for some of the Royal Guards on duty, with one officer dramatically fainting in the heat (pictured)

Safety fears: As Sweden basked in 20 degree sunshine on Friday it all proved too much for some of the Royal Guards on duty, with one officer dramatically fainting in the heat (pictured)

Distinguished guests: Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Jenni Ahlin attend the christening of Princess Adrienne of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel this morning

Distinguished guests: Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Jenni Ahlin attend the christening of Princess Adrienne of Sweden at Drottningholm Palace Chapel this morning

A Royal Guard lies on the floor after fainting in the heat. Politicians including Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Centre Party leader Annie Loof also gathered at the chapel on Friday morning

A Royal Guard lies on the floor after fainting in the heat. Politicians including Speaker of the Swedish Parliament Urban Ahlin and Centre Party leader Annie Loof also gathered at the chapel on Friday morning

Madeleine became known as Sweden’s party princess during her early 20s, when she was frequently spotted at Stockholm’s high-end nightclubs.

Countless column inches were also devoted to Madeleine’s stylish wardrobe and glamorous lifestyle, but she now focuses on royal duties and raising her children.

Currently seventh-in-line to the Swedish throne, the keen equestrian and art history graduate shares Princess Leonore, four, and Prince Nicolas, two, with her husband, and welcomed Princess Adrienne on 9th March.

Madeleine is the youngest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia, 74, a German-Brazilian former flight attendant.



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