Swedish Royal Court: Princess Madeleine to give birth in New York

Princess Madeleine and husband Chris O'Neill. Image: Swedish Royal Court

The Swedish Royal Court has made an official statement that Princess Madeleine of Sweden will not be giving birth in New York. The press release issued January 11 reads:

After careful consideration and in consultation with Their Majesties, Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O'Neill have decided that their child will be born in New York City. The birth is expected to take place in late February 2014.

Princess Madeleine and Mr. O'Neill kindly ask the media to respect their wish for privacy during this very special and joyous time.

Further information will be provided in due course.

Svante Lindqvist
Marshal of the Realm

Princess Madeleine marries Chris O’Neill: Royal guests witness the event

Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill exchange a sweet kiss
after the ceremony. Image credit: Reuters

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and American banker Chris O’Neill sealed their exchange of “I do’s” with a kiss in front of royal guests, government officials, dignitaries, and high-profile New Yorkers who converged at Drotningholm Palace’s Royal Chapel to witness the event.

Princess Madeleine, 30, is the younger daughter and third child of King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia. Meanwhile, Chris O’Neill, 38, is a Manhattan banker.

The Washington Post reports that the wedding attracted “about 500 European royals and wealthy jet-setters.” Indeed, what more could crown such a regal event than have high-society’s crème de la crème rub elbows with one another? It’s the best time for “blue-blooded Europe [to] mingle with Manhattan's elite and a sprinkling of pop aristocracy,” Mail Online reports.

Chris O'Neill puts a ring on the princess' finger. Image credit: BPA

Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill after the wedding.
Image credit: Getty Images

The couple during the wedding ceremony. 

Princess Madeleine waves to loyal onlookers.
Image credit: AFP/Getty Images

Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill while riding the carriage.
Image credit: Getty Images.

Hellodescribes the princess as “breathtakingly beautiful in a pleated silk organza gown with ivory-coloured Chantilly lace detailing by Valentino.” She wore a glittering tiara that “was softened with sprigs of orange blossom,” to match the wedding’s “summer meadow motif.” The chapel was festive with a profusion of floral decorations, as it was bursting with bright colors, too. Beech leaves, cow parsley, pink and white peonies, white lilacs, foxgloves, delphiniums and lilies of the valley were just overflowing.

The groom, meanwhile, was on the verge of tears while he was waiting for his lovely bride, who looked really ethereal while she was walking down the aisle, accompanied by her father, King Carl.

Hello described the newlyweds as “blissfully happy throughout the touching service.” The wedding was officiated by the Chief Court Chaplain and Bishop Emeritus Lars-Göran Lönnermark and Vicar of the Royal Court, Court Chaplain Michael Bjerkhagen.

Everyone was nearly brought to tears by the powerful hymns, prayers and sermons as they were “overwhelmed by the emotion and joy of the nuptials.”

After the 45-minute ceremony, the couple was proclaimed husband and wife. A 21-gun salute at nearby Skeppsholmen Island was fired afterwards each at a five-second interval.

The princess and her dashing prince charming were glowing with joy as they as they leave the chapel and shared a kiss in front of thousands of cheering locals.

They then rode a top horse-drawn carriage that brought them to the stunning harbor of nearby Gamla Stan, a quaint medieval town. They passed along streets lined by loyal well-wishers bedecked by blue and yellow flags.

They tend rode a royal barge, the very same barge that ferried Madeleine’s older sister, Crown Princess Victoria when she married Daniel Westling two years ago. The barge transported the couple to Drottningholm Palace where a private banquet was hosted by the King and Queen of Sweden.

Royalties from Denmark, Norway, The Netherland, Greece, Great Britain, Japan, Luxembourg and Monaco were present at the event. Meanwhile, Peoplereports that O'Neill has also invited some of his mega-rich pals, including Opel heir Georg von Opel, Cadbury chocolate heir Joel Cadbury, Colombian billionaire Alejandro Santo Domingo, and Aidan and Fizzy Barclay.

Duran Duran band member John Taylor, the CEO of fashion retailer H&M, Karl-Johan Persson, and golfer Jesper Parnevik also graced the occasion.

O’Neill was said to have refused a royal title and made it known that he wished to remain an American citizen. The couple also announced that they prefer to live in New York. 

Princess Charlene of Monaco. Image credit: AP

A line of high profile visitors. Image credit: Mail Online

Princess Theodora and Prince Philippos of Greece.
Image credit: Getty Images

Princess Tatiana and Prince Nikolaus of Greece.
Image credit: Getty Images

Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark.
Image credit: Getty Images

Queen Silvia and Prince Carl of Sweden.
Image credit: Reuters

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway.
Image credit: AP

Everyone takes time for the group photo op at the steps of the Royal Palace.
Image credit: Official website of the Swedish Royal Family 

Princess Madeleine weds Christopher O’Neill today

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Mr. Christopher O'Neill.
Image credit: kungahuset.se

Sweden is already busy and excited for the wedding of Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O’Neill at the Royal Chapel of the Royal Palace in Stockholm, 4 pm today. Yesterday, a private dinner was hosted by the King and King for invited guests at the Grand Hotel.

The wedding will be officiated by the Chief Court Chaplain of the Royal Court and Bishop Emeritus Lars-Göran Lönnermark and Vicar of the Royal Court, Court Chaplain Michael Bjerkhagen.

The bride and groom will the proceed outside the South Gate, where well-wishing onlookers will have the chance to catch a glimpse of the couple.

A 21-gun salute will be fired at five-second intervals from Skeppsholmen in honor of the newly-married couple, after which, the royal couple, members of the entourage and guests will proceed to the Drottningholm Palace for the wedding banquet.

Aside from the members of the Swedish Royal Family, royals from all over the world are expected to grace the occasion. Among the expected visitors include:

The Crown Prince and Princess of Denmark

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie of Denmark

Prince Nicholaus and Princess Tatiana

Princess Theodora of Greece

Prince Philippos of Greece

The Crown Prince and Princess of Greece

Princess Takamado of Japan

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg

Princess Charlene of Monaco

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway

Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Mr. Ari Behn

The Earl and Countess of Wessex

Princess Benedikte of Denmark

Prince Manuel and Princess Anna of Bavaria

Hereditary Prince and Princess of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Prince Andreas of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Prince Leopold and Princess Ursula of Bavaria

Wedding cortege

The bride and groom will ride a horse-drawn carriage, which will take them from the Royal Palace to Riddarholmen. The cortège will leave the Royal Palace of Stockholm at exactly 3:50.

The cortège will move past the Outer Courtyard and along Slottsbacken, Skeppsbron, Strömbron, Strömgatan, Norrbro, Slottskajen, Myntgatan and Wrangelska Backen to Evert Taubes Terrass on Riddarholmen.  From their, the bride and groom and their invited guests will take a boat ride to Drottningholm Palace.The Swedish Armed Forces will parade along the route of the cortège and on arrival at Drottningholm.

Adapted from: Official Website of the Swedish Royal Family 

You might also want to read:

• Interview with Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill 
• Princess Madeleine of Sweden is engaged to Christopher O’Neill 
• Official engagement portraits of Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill 

See the official engagement portraits of Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill

Here are the official portraits of the recently engaged Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill, courtesy of the Swedish Royal Family’s official website.

Swedish Royal Family's Official Website: Interview with Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill

Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill

In an interview with newly engaged Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill, the couple talks about their unexplainable joy, excitement and wedding plans. The couple who was official engaged October 25, are set to marry summer next year.


Here is the interview with Princess Madeleine and Christopher O'Neill Drottningholm Palace, Wednesday, October 24, 2012, courtesy of the Swedish Royal Family’s Official Website

How does it feel to be engaged?

Princess Madeleine: We are both extremely happy and delighted. It is a very special day for us.
When and how did Christopher propose?

Princess Madeleine: Chris proposed to me at the beginning of October. It was a very romantic and intimate proposal, but more details about the proposal we want to keep to ourselves.

Christopher, were you nervous? Had you planned this for a long time?

I had been thinking about proposing for a while, but I wanted to wait until the right moment. But I have been sure all along that Madeleine was the one I wanted to marry.

Where did you meet the first time? 

Princess Madeleine: We met through mutual friends. For me it started with a great friendship. We share the same humor and we have a lot of fun together. Christopher opened up my heart, he is my soul mate.

Christopher, when did you know Princess Madeleine was the right one?

From the very outset, I immediately felt something special with Madeleine.

What was your first impression of Christopher?

Princess Madeleine: I appreciate Chris for his warmth and his humour. He has a very big heart and he manages to make everyone in his presence feel good. Christopher is a very thoughtful and generous person.

Christopher, have you asked the King´s permission for Princess Madeleine's hand?

Yes, I met with The King and I asked His Majesty´s permission to marry Princess Madeleine.

What was the King´s response?

Christopher O'Neill: The King and The Queen were both happy, and touched as well, I think.
 
Christopher, do you know any Swedish?

I can say some Swedish phrases and am in the process of taking lessons so that I may speak fluently in due course.

Princess Madeleine, how do you feel about Christopher´s family? 

I appreciate Christopher´s family very much. They have always been very nice to me and welcomed me with open arms. Christopher has a lovely family!

Christopher, how do you feel about Princess Madeleine´s family?

I know the Swedish royal family very well. They have been extremely welcoming to me and I felt part of the family right from the very beginning. Madeleine´s family is very warm and we have a very good time when we all see each other.

Talking about family, will you start planning for a family right away?

Princess Madeleine: Of course we look forward to getting married and someday building our own family.

Where will you live?

Princess Madeleine: For the time being we will continue to live in New York due to both of our current obligations. However, we will not exclude the possibility of moving to Sweden in due course.
 
Christopher, what do you think about Sweden?  

Sweden is fantastic. It is such a beautiful country with very friendly people. I have mostly just been to Stockholm and Öland but I hope I will have the opportunity to visit Sweden a little more often now.
 
Lastly and most importantly, when is the big day?

Princess Madeleine: We will have to get back to you regarding that. The wedding will take place in Sweden sometime during the summer of 2013.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden is engaged to Christopher O’Neill

Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Christopher O'Neill's engagement,
finally announced.

We can expect more wedding bells ringing. A little less than a week after the fairy tale wedding of Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg, the Royal Court in Sweden had officially announced the engagement of Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O’Neill. The couple are expected to tie the knot in the summer of 2013.


His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf  “had given his consent to the marriage between Princess Madeleine and Mr Christopher O'Neill, His Majesty requested the approval by the Swedish Government, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Swedish Constitution,” reports the official website of the Swedish Royal Family.

Princess Madeleine is the third child and youngest daughter of King Carl XVI and Queen Silvia. She was born on June 10, 1982 and was baptized Madeleine Therese Amelie Josephine. The Princess, also Duchess of Halsingland and Gastrikland, graduated in 2006, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, ethnology and modern history. Prior to that, he also studied English in London (2001), Introduction to Swedish Law (2002), as well as trained for European Computer Driving Licence. In 2007, she studied child psychology at the University of Stockholm. The Princess is an avid equestrienne, as well as a patron of numerous charities and organizations, both in Sweden and around the world.

Mr. O’Neill was born on June 27, 1974 to Paul and Eva Maria O’Neill. He holds dual citizenship, both in the US and Great Britain. He graduated Bachelor in International Relations at the Boston University, while he finished his Master’s degree in Business Administration at Columbia Business School in New York. O’Neill worked at various financial firms before becoming a partner and research head at Noster Capital, an investment firm which operates in London and New York.