Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling
Encyclopedia
The royal wedding between Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
, and Daniel Westling took place on 2010 in Stockholm Cathedral
. It has been described as "Europe's biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales
married
Lady Diana Spencer
in 1981." Westling's style
and title after the marriage is now His Royal Highness Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland
.
for 19 June 2010, the 34th anniversary of her parents' marriage. The chosen year 2010 also marks the 200th year since Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte
became heir to the Swedish throne.
and half by the Swedish government from tax money. This was criticized by some Swedish subjects.
On 18 June, the Parliament of Sweden
honoured the couple with a gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall
. Performers at the gala included Malena Ernman
, Helen Sjöholm
, and Peter Jöback
. The famous Swedish band Roxette
was reunited on stage, and they performed their hit song "The Look
".
The service was conducted by Anders Wejryd
, Archbishop of Uppsala. He was assisted by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Royal Court Chief Chaplain, and Dr Antje Jackelén
, Bishop of Lund. The Great Marriage Litany was sung by Åke Bonnier, Dean of the Cathedral and Royal Court Chaplain.
Victoria's dress was by Swedish designer Pär Engsheden. The duchess satin white dress was with a five meter long train
. The dress has a striking resemblance with Pronovias spanish designer Manuel Mota's Chabeli from the 2010 collection. She wore the same diadem
that her mother wore when she married . The first piece of music that was played was written by Karin Rehnqvist
especially for the couple as a gift from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
. Victoria walked down the aisle with her father, who then handed her over to Daniel. The wedding couple then stood in front of the archbishop, who told them about the importance of supporting each other in a marriage. After Victoria and Daniel were pronounced husband and wife, Swedish singers Agnes Carlsson
and Björn Skifs
finished the ceremony with the song "When You Tell The World You're Mine
", written for the couple. Victoria and Daniel walked under crossed swords after stepping out of the cathedral.
societal norms, as if an unmarried woman is the property of her father and is about to turn into the proprietary ownership of the groom; and secondly, that it would violate the established customs of the Church of Sweden
, where bride and groom walk up to the altar together. The Royal Court defended the handing over with the statement "the King conveys the heir to the throne and hands her over to a man who has been accepted". In the end a compromise was reached, as the King handed over the Crown Princess to her groom downstairs the altar choir.
The wedding of Victoria and Daniel was the biggest event that has ever been covered on television in Stockholm, according to Sveriges Television
.
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, Duchess of Västergötland is the heiress-apparent to the Swedish throne. If she ascends to the throne as expected, she will be Sweden's fourth queen regnant .-Early life:...
, and Daniel Westling took place on 2010 in Stockholm Cathedral
Storkyrkan
Sankt Nikolai kyrka , most commonly known as Storkyrkan and Stockholms domkyrka , is the oldest church in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is an important example of Swedish Brick Gothic...
. It has been described as "Europe's biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
married
Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer
The wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Frances Spencer took place on Wednesday, 29 July 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral, London, United Kingdom. Their marriage was widely billed as a "fairytale wedding" and the "wedding of the century". It was watched by an estimated global TV...
Lady Diana Spencer
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
in 1981." Westling's style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
and title after the marriage is now His Royal Highness Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
.
Background
Westling was Victoria's personal trainer at Master Training. In July 2002, Victoria and he were pictured kissing for the first time at a birthday party for Caroline Kreuger, a close friend of Victoria's. Westling and Victoria's engagement was announced on 24 February 2009. The wedding date was set in Stockholm CathedralStorkyrkan
Sankt Nikolai kyrka , most commonly known as Storkyrkan and Stockholms domkyrka , is the oldest church in Gamla Stan, the old town in central Stockholm, Sweden. It is an important example of Swedish Brick Gothic...
for 19 June 2010, the 34th anniversary of her parents' marriage. The chosen year 2010 also marks the 200th year since Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte
Charles XIV John of Sweden
Charles XIV & III John, also Carl John, Swedish and Norwegian: Karl Johan was King of Sweden and King of Norway from 1818 until his death...
became heir to the Swedish throne.
Preparations and finances
On 17 September 2009, the cathedral parish of Stockholm announced that Swedish kronor would be used for a cleanup and renovation of Stockholm Cathedral during the period January–April 2010. The wedding itself cost about kronor which was paid half by the Swedish Royal FamilySwedish Royal Family
The Swedish Royal Family since 1818 consists of a number of persons in the Swedish Royal House of Bernadotte, closely related to the King of Sweden. They are entitled to royal titles and style , and some perform official engagements and ceremonial duties of state...
and half by the Swedish government from tax money. This was criticized by some Swedish subjects.
Celebrations
On 24 November 2009 it was decided that the days between the Swedish national day on June 6th and the wedding date on 19 June would be Love Stockholm 2010 days. With festivities for residents and visitors such as music, art, culture, food, design, and history, the city of Stockholm had hoped for sponsor deals to pay for the arrangements.On 18 June, the Parliament of Sweden
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
honoured the couple with a gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall
Stockholm Concert Hall
The Stockholm Concert Hall is the main hall for orchestral music in Stockholm, Sweden. Designed by Ivar Tengbom and inaugurated in 1926, it is the home to the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. It is also where the awarding ceremony for the Nobel Prizes, Polar Music Prize are held annually....
. Performers at the gala included Malena Ernman
Malena Ernman
Sara Magdalena "Malena" Ernman is a Swedish opera singer . Ernman is a versatile artist in her field, who outside the world of opera and operettas also has performed chansons, cabaret, jazz, appeared in musicals and she is a performer who's declared that she's very much attracted to the attributes...
, Helen Sjöholm
Helen Sjöholm
Marie Helen Sjöholm is a Swedish singer, actress and musical theatre performer who lives in Gamla Enskede in Stockholm. She grew up in Sundsvall and started to sing in choirs at an early age, working, among others, with Swedish conductor Kjell Lönnå...
, and Peter Jöback
Peter Jöback
Peter Arne Jöback is a Swedish singer and musical artist, and is regarded as being one of Sweden's best male vocalists .- 1997–2000 :...
. The famous Swedish band Roxette
Roxette
Roxette are a Swedish pop music duo, consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle . Formed in 1986, the duo became an international act from the late 1980s, when they released their breakthrough album Look Sharp!...
was reunited on stage, and they performed their hit song "The Look
The Look
"The Look", written by Per Gessle and performed by Roxette, was released as a single in early 1989 from the album Look Sharp!. The song became Roxette's international "breakthrough" song, finally exposing the duo to music consumers outside of the duo's native Sweden and Europe after more than one...
".
Wedding service
The wedding service began at 15:30 local time in Stockholm Cathedral, with around 1,100 guests present. The music in the ceremony was headed by Gustaf Sjökvist, court organist and organist for the Cathedral Parish of Stockholm. He was also in charge of the music during the wedding of Victoria's parents in 1976.The service was conducted by Anders Wejryd
Anders Wejryd
Anders Harald Wejryd is a Swedish Lutheran clergyman. Having been Bishop of Växjö since 1995, he was elected Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden in March 2006 and took office in September of the same year....
, Archbishop of Uppsala. He was assisted by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Royal Court Chief Chaplain, and Dr Antje Jackelén
Antje Jackelén
Antje Jackelén, born June 4, 1955 in Herdecke, Germany, is the Bishop of Lund in Sweden. She was ordained a priest in the Church of Sweden in 1980 and became a doctor of Theology at Lund University in 1999....
, Bishop of Lund. The Great Marriage Litany was sung by Åke Bonnier, Dean of the Cathedral and Royal Court Chaplain.
Victoria's dress was by Swedish designer Pär Engsheden. The duchess satin white dress was with a five meter long train
Train (clothing)
A train in clothing is the long back portion of a skirt or dress that writes a trail on the ground behind the wearer in ruler , or a separate trailing overskirt. It is a common part of a court dress or a wedding dress....
. The dress has a striking resemblance with Pronovias spanish designer Manuel Mota's Chabeli from the 2010 collection. She wore the same diadem
Diadem
Diadem may refer to:*Diadem, a type of crown-Military:*HMS Diadem was a 64-gun third rate ship of the line in the Royal Navy launched in 1782 at Chatham and participated in the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1787...
that her mother wore when she married . The first piece of music that was played was written by Karin Rehnqvist
Karin Rehnqvist
Karin Rehnqvist is a Swedish composer.With regular performances throughout Europe, USA and Scandinavia, her range extends to chamber, orchestral, stage, and vocal music. Above all, she enjoys working with unusual, cross-genre forms and ensembles. One strong characteristic feature of her work is...
especially for the couple as a gift from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music
Royal Swedish Academy of Music
The Royal Swedish Academy of Music or Kungl. Musikaliska Akademien, founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden...
. Victoria walked down the aisle with her father, who then handed her over to Daniel. The wedding couple then stood in front of the archbishop, who told them about the importance of supporting each other in a marriage. After Victoria and Daniel were pronounced husband and wife, Swedish singers Agnes Carlsson
Agnes Carlsson
Agnes Emilia Carlsson, also known mononymously as Agnes , is a Swedish recording artist. She rose to fame as the winner of Idol 2005, the second season of the Swedish Idol series...
and Björn Skifs
Björn Skifs
Björn Nils Olof Skifs is a Swedish singer, songwriter, actor, and screenwriter.Björn Skifs formed his first musical group Slam Creepers’ in 1963. Slam Creepers’ split in 1969 and Skifs went on to form a new band, Blåblus, in 1972. As Blue Swede, the band had a #1 hit on Billboard Hot 100 in 1974...
finished the ceremony with the song "When You Tell The World You're Mine
When You Tell the World You're Mine
"When You Tell the World You're Mine" is a song recorded by Swedish singers Agnes and Björn Skifs. The song was performed at the Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010. It is also the official wedding song, written especially for this occasion and as a...
", written for the couple. Victoria and Daniel walked under crossed swords after stepping out of the cathedral.
Debate about handing over the bride
The King's wish that the Crown Princess should be led to the altar by himself, and thereafter be handed over to the groom, created a public debate in Sweden. Critics among the clergy held that the symbolism in handing over the bride from father to groom reflects reactionaryReactionary
The term reactionary refers to viewpoints that seek to return to a previous state in a society. The term is meant to describe one end of a political spectrum whose opposite pole is "radical". While it has not been generally considered a term of praise it has been adopted as a self-description by...
societal norms, as if an unmarried woman is the property of her father and is about to turn into the proprietary ownership of the groom; and secondly, that it would violate the established customs of the Church of Sweden
Church of Sweden
The Church of Sweden is the largest Christian church in Sweden. The church professes the Lutheran faith and is a member of the Porvoo Communion. With 6,589,769 baptized members, it is the largest Lutheran church in the world, although combined, there are more Lutherans in the member churches of...
, where bride and groom walk up to the altar together. The Royal Court defended the handing over with the statement "the King conveys the heir to the throne and hands her over to a man who has been accepted". In the end a compromise was reached, as the King handed over the Crown Princess to her groom downstairs the altar choir.
Carriage procession
A carriage procession followed the ceremony, in which the wedding couple was transported through the streets of Stockholm. On their way they passed by twenty musical bands, nineteen of which were military. Victoria and Daniel then proceeded in a royal barge over Stockholm's waters; the same barge that was used by Victoria's parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, during their wedding in 1976. 500,000 people are estimated to have gathered to watch the procession, which was nearly seven kilometers long. 18 fighter jets flew across the sky as the barge approached its landing place at the royal palace, where the wedding banquet was later held.The wedding of Victoria and Daniel was the biggest event that has ever been covered on television in Stockholm, according to Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television
Sveriges Television AB , Sweden's Television, is a national television broadcaster based in Sweden, funded by a compulsory fee to be paid by all television owners...
.
Reigning Royalty
- T.M. The KingAlbert II of BelgiumAlbert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
and Queen of the BelgiansQueen Paola of BelgiumPaola, Queen of the Belgians , is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium....
- T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of BrabantPrincess Mathilde, Duchess of BrabantPrincess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant, DHS , is the wife of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne, Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant...
- T.I.&R.H. Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este
- T.R.H. Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of BelgiumPrincess Claire of BelgiumPrincess Claire of Belgium, is the wife of Prince Laurent of Belgium and is a land surveyor.- Biography :...
- T.R.H. The Duke and Duchess of Brabant
- H.M. The QueenMargrethe II of DenmarkMargrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
and H.R.H. The Prince Consort of DenmarkHenrik, Prince Consort of DenmarkHenrik, Prince Consort of Denmark , is the husband of the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II.-Early life:Henrik was born in Talence, Gironde, France...
- T.R.H. The Crown PrinceFrederik, Crown Prince of DenmarkFrederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
and Crown Princess of DenmarkMary, Crown Princess of DenmarkMary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark...
- H.R.H. Prince Christian of DenmarkPrince Christian of DenmarkPrince Christian Valdemar Henri John of Denmark, Count of Monpezat , is a member of the Danish Royal Family. He is the elder son of Crown Prince Frederik and his wife, the Australian born Crown Princess Mary. He is a grandson of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and her husband Prince Henrik...
(page boy)
- H.R.H. Prince Christian of Denmark
- T.R.H. The Crown Prince
- H.H. The PrinceRichard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgRichard Casimir Karl August Robert Konstantin, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is the Prince and Head of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. He is the son of Gustav Albrecht, 5th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Margareta Fouché d'Otrante...
and H.R.H. The Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgPrincess Benedikte of DenmarkPrincess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, , , is the second daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden...
- H.S.H. The Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgGustav, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgGustav Frederik Philip Richard, Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg , is the eldest child and only son of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark....
- H.S.H. Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgPrincess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgHSH Princess Alexandra Rosemarie Ingrid Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, Countess of Pfeil and Klein-Ellguth , is daughter of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark)...
and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-EllguthCount Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-EllguthHis Illustrious Highness Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth is the son of Count Friedrich-August Rüdiger Albrecht von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth and Astrid Maria Andres.-Marriage:He married Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg on 6 June 1998, becoming the husband of a... - H.S.H. Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgPrincess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-BerleburgPrincess Nathalie Xenia Margarete Benedikte of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is daughter of Princess Benedikte of Denmark, who is the younger sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, and Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.-Equestrian:She discovered a love for horses and for riding in...
- H.S.H. The Hereditary Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
- H.I.H. The Crown Prince of Japan
- T.M. The KingAbdullah II of JordanAbdullah II ibn al-Hussein is the reigning King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. He ascended the throne on 7 February 1999 after the death of his father King Hussein. King Abdullah, whose mother is Princess Muna al-Hussein, is a member of the Hashemite family...
and Queen of Jordan- T.R.H. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym AliPrincess RymPrincess Rym Ali married to Prince Ali bin Al Hussein September 7, 2004. She is the daughter of Lakhdar Brahimi, former Algerian Minister for Foreign Affairs and senior UN official. She was raised in Great Britain and Algeria...
of Jordan - T.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan
- H.R.H. Prince Rashid bin El Hassan of Jordan
- H.R.H. Princess Noor bint Asem of Jordan
- H.R.H. Princess Iman bint Al AbdullahPrincess Iman bint Al Abdullah-References:...
of Jordan
- T.R.H. Prince Ali bin Al Hussein and Princess Rym Ali
- H.S.H. The Hereditary PrinceAlois, Hereditary Prince of LiechtensteinAlois Philipp Maria, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Count of Rietberg is the eldest son of Hans Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein and Countess Marie Aglaë Kinsky of Wchinitz and Tettau. Alois has been Regent of Liechtenstein since 15 August 2004...
and H.R.H. The Hereditary Princess of LiechtensteinSophie, Hereditary Princess of LiechtensteinSophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein , is the wife of Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, Regent of Liechtenstein and heir apparent to the Liechtensteiner throne.-Early life and education:... - T.R.H. The Grand DukeHenri, Grand Duke of LuxembourgHenri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden...
and Grand Duchess of LuxembourgMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of LuxembourgMaria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg is the spouse and Grand Duchess of Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Early life and education:...
- H.R.H. The Hereditary Grand Duke of LuxembourgGuillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of LuxembourgGuillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg has been heir apparent to the crown of Luxembourg since his father's accession in 2000.-Early life and education:...
- H.R.H. Prince Félix of LuxembourgPrince Félix of LuxembourgPrince Félix of Luxembourg , is the second son of the Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. He is currently second in the line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg. His godparents are Prince Jean of Luxembourg and Catalina Mestre...
- H.R.H. The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg
- H.S.H. The Prince of MonacoAlbert II, Prince of MonacoAlbert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the ruler of the Principality of Monaco. He is the son of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly...
and Charlene WittstockCharlene WittstockCharlene, Princess of Monaco , is the wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco. She is also a former South African Olympic swimmer.... - H.M. The Queen of the NetherlandsBeatrix of the NetherlandsBeatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
- T.R.H. The Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
and Princess Máxima of the NetherlandsPrincess Máxima of the NetherlandsPrincess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
- H.R.H. Princess Catharina-Amalia of the NetherlandsPrincess Catharina-Amalia of the NetherlandsThe official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
(bridesmaid)
- H.R.H. Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands
- T.R.H. Prince ConstantijnPrince Constantijn of the NetherlandsPrince Constantijn of the Netherlands is the third and youngest son of Queen Beatrix and the late Prince Claus of the Netherlands. His godparents are King Constantine II of Greece, Prince Aschwin zu Lippe-Biesterfeld, Axel Freiherr von dem Bussche-Streithorst, Max Kohnstamm, and Mrs. C...
and Princess Laurentien of the NetherlandsPrincess Laurentien of the NetherlandsPrincess Laurentien of the Netherlands is the wife of Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, the third son of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer van Amsberg.-Early life:Petra Laurentien Brinkhorst was born in Leiden on 25 May 1966, the daughter of the former Dutch minister... - T.R.H. Prince Friso and Princess Mabel of Orange-NassauPrincess Mabel of Orange-NassauPrincess Mabel of Orange-Nassau is the wife of Prince Friso of Orange-Nassau ....
- T.R.H. The Prince of Orange
- T.M. The KingHarald V of NorwayHarald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
and Queen of NorwayQueen Sonja of NorwayQueen Sonja of Norway is the wife of King Harald V of Norway.-Prior to marriage:Sonja was born in Oslo on 4 July 1937 as the daughter of clothing merchant Karl August Haraldsen and Dagny Ulrichsen .Queen Sonja grew up in the district of Vinderen in Oslo and completed her lower secondary schooling...
- T.R.H. The Crown PrinceHaakon, Crown Prince of NorwayHaakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
and Crown Princess of NorwayMette-Marit, Crown Princess of NorwayMette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway , is the wife of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway.-Background and education:...
- H.R.H. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of NorwayPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of NorwayPrincess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
(bridesmaid)
- H.R.H. Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
- H.H. Princess Märtha Louise of NorwayPrincess Märtha Louise of NorwayPrincess Märtha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V and Queen Sonja. She is fourth in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne, after her brother and his two children.-Early life:...
and Ari BehnAri BehnAri Mikael Behn is a Norwegian author, and is best known as the husband of Princess Märtha Louise of Norway. He has written two novels, a collection of short stories and a book about his wedding...
- T.R.H. The Crown Prince
- H.M. The Queen of SpainQueen Sofía of SpainQueen Sofía of Spain is the wife of King Juan Carlos I of Spain.-Early life and family:Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark was born in Psychiko, Athens, Greece on 2 November 1938, the eldest child of the King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederika , a former princess of Hanover...
- T.R.H. The PrinceFelipe, Prince of AsturiasFelipe, Prince of Asturias de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain....
and Princess of AsturiasLetizia, Princess of AsturiasLetizia, Princess of Asturias , is the wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne... - H.R.H. The Duchess of Lugo
- H.R.H. The Duchess and H.E. The Duke of Palma de Mallorca
- T.R.H. The Prince
- T.R.H. The EarlPrince Edward, Earl of WessexPrince Edward, Earl of Wessex KG GCVO is the third son and fourth child of Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh...
and Countess of Wessex (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Republican Heads of State
- H.E. The President of the Republic of FinlandTarja HalonenTarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
and Dr. Pentti ArajärviPentti ArajärviPentti Arajärvi is a Finnish doctor of law. He is the husband of Tarja Halonen, who became the President of Finland in 2000. Currently, he holds the unofficial title of First Gentleman of Finland.-External links:*... - H.E. The President of IcelandÓlafur Ragnar GrímssonÓlafur Ragnar Grímsson is the fifth and current President of Iceland. He has served as President since 1996; he was unopposed in 2000, re-elected for a third term in 2004, and re-elected unopposed for a fourth term in 2008. He is the longest-serving left-wing president in the history of...
and his spouse Dorrit MousieffDorrit MoussaieffDorrit Moussaieff is an Israeli-born British jewellery designer, editor and businesswoman. She is the First Lady of Iceland, married to Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, president of Iceland.-Biography:...
Non-reigning royalty
- T.R.H. Prince ManuelPrince Manuel of BavariaPrince Manuel of Bavaria is a member of the deposed Bavarian Royal House of Wittelsbach, and a cardiology researcher at Columbia University.-Early life:...
and Princess Anna of Bavaria - T.M. The TsarSimeon Saxe-Coburg-GothaSimeon Borisov of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Tsar Simeon II or Simeon II of Bulgaria is an important political and royal figure in Bulgaria...
and Queen of the BulgariansMargarita Gomez-Acebo y CejuelaDoña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela, born on 6 January 1935 in Madrid, Spain, is the consort of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria, whom she married after his exile...
- T.R.H. The PrinceKyrill, Prince of Preslav|align=right Semana covered the event and reported that there were 400 guests, though only 125 could be accommodated in the chapel for the religious ceremony...
and Princess of Preslav
- T.R.H. The Prince
- T.M. King Constantine IIConstantine II of Greece|align=right|Constantine II was King of Greece from 1964 until the abolition of the monarchy in 1973, the sixth and last monarch of the Greek Royal Family....
and Queen Anne-Marie of GreeceQueen Anne-Marie of GreeceQueen Anne-Marie of Greece is the wife of former King Constantine II of Greece, who was deposed in referendums in 1973 and in 1974. Her title "Queen of Greece" is not recognized under the terms of the republican Constitution of Greece...
- H.R.H. Princess Alexia of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Alexia of Greece and DenmarkPrincess Alexia of Greece and Denmark , born 10 July 1965, is the elder daughter and eldest child of former King Constantine II of Greece and former Queen Anna-Marie .-Early life:Princess Alexia was born at Mon Repos, Corfu, Ionian Islands,...
- H.R.H. Prince Nikolaos of Greece and DenmarkPrince Nikolaos of Greece and DenmarkPrince Nikolaos of Greece and Denmark is the second son and third child of King Constantine II of Greece and Anne-Marie of Denmark, the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark and sister of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark....
- H.R.H. Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark
- H.R.H. Princess Alexia of Greece and Denmark
- H.I.M. Empress Farah PahlaviFarah PahlaviFarah Pahlavi is the former Queen and Empress of Iran. She is the widow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, and only Empress of modern Iran...
of Iran - T.R.H. The Crown PrincessPrincess Margarita of RomaniaPrincess Margarita of Romania , also styled as Crown Princess of Romania, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, former Princess of Hohenzollern, is the eldest daughter of Michael I , King of Romania , former Prince of Hohenzollern, and of his wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma...
and Prince Radu of Romania - T.H. The Hereditary PrinceHubertus, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and GothaHubertus Michael, Hereditary Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Saxony is the heir of the head of the family which ruled the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha until 1918....
and Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha - T.R.H. The Crown PrinceAlexander, Crown Prince of YugoslaviaAlexander II Karadjordjevic, Crown Prince of Yugoslavia , is the former crown prince of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the head of the House of Karadjordjevic. Alexander is the only child of former King Peter II of Yugoslavia and Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark...
and Crown Princess of YugoslaviaKatherine, Crown Princess of YugoslaviaKatherine, Crown Princess of Yugoslavia, also named Katherine Karađorđević , is the wife of Alexander, Crown Prince of Serbia.Katherine was educated in Athens and Lausanne, Switzerland. She studied business at the University of Denver, Colorado and the University of Dallas, Texas...
Wedding banquet
The wedding banquet was held on the night of the wedding day in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Sweden's finest ceremonial hall. The Hall of State was renovated for the occasion. 98 guests of the nearly 600 invited guests were accommodated in the main table. Pink and white flowers were strewn over the table decorations, which included silver candelabraCandelabra
"Candelabra" is the traditional term for a set of multiple decorative candlesticks, each of which often holds a candle on each of multiple arms or branches connected to a column or pedestal...
and silver bowls. On the seats of honour were sitting the wedding couple, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden
Carl XVI Gustaf is the reigning King of Sweden since 15 September 1973, succeeding his grandfather King Gustaf VI Adolf because his father had predeceased him...
and Queen Silvia, Mr and Mrs Westling, the Queen's brother Ralf de Toledo Sommerlath, the King's uncle Count Carl Johan Bernadotte
Carl Johan Bernadotte
Carl Johan Arthur Bernadotte, Count of Wisborg, formerly Prince Carl Johan Arthur of Sweden, Duke of Dalarna , is the paternal uncle of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and the maternal uncle of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and former Queen Anne-Marie of Greece...
af Wisborg, Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II of Denmark
Margrethe II is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of Denmark. In 1972 she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margaret I, ruler of the Scandinavian countries in 1375-1412 during the Kalmar Union.-Early life:...
, Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
, Harald V of Norway
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
, Albert II of Belgium
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, the President of Finland Tarja Halonen
Tarja Halonen
Tarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
, and the Archbishop of Uppsala
Archbishop of Uppsala
The Archbishop of Uppsala has been the primate in Sweden in an unbroken succession since 1164, first during the Catholic era, and from the 1530s and onward under the Lutheran church.- Historical overview :...
Anders Wejryd
Anders Wejryd
Anders Harald Wejryd is a Swedish Lutheran clergyman. Having been Bishop of Växjö since 1995, he was elected Archbishop of Uppsala and primate of the Church of Sweden in March 2006 and took office in September of the same year....
.
Titles for Daniel Westling
Sweden has only practiced absolute cognatic primogeniturePrimogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
by law since 1980 (SFS
Swedish Code of Statutes
The Swedish Code of Statutes or "Svensk författningssamling" is the official publication of all new Swedish laws enacted by the Riksdag and ordinances issued by the Government. Every law has an SFS number, including legislation amending already existing law. The number consists of a four digit...
1979:932). This means that Victoria is the first heiress apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to marry. Westling became the first man of the people to obtain a new title or rank as the spouse of a Swedish princess since the Middle Ages. All previous princes have been born to royal parents of Swedish origin or have been foreign dukes that have married Swedish princesses. As a result, questions arose as to how Westling would be known after the wedding.
The Swedish Royal Court first announced on 2009 that upon his marriage to Princess Victoria, who is Duchess
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
(Westrogothia), Westling would receive the titles of "Prince Daniel" and "Duke of Västergötland". It was further announced in May 2010, by the Swedish Royal Court, that Westling will be granted the style His Royal Highness upon his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria. He will thus be known as HRH Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. The last part of his name corresponds in form to the style
Style (manner of address)
A style of office, or honorific, is a legal, official, or recognized title. A style, by tradition or law, precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or political office, and is sometimes used to refer to the office itself. An honorific can also be awarded to an individual in a personal...
used by other Swedish princes, including Victoria's younger brother Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland , is the second child of three children and only son of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Born Crown Prince of Sweden, he retained his title and first place in succession for seven months until 1 January 1980...
, i.e. Prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
+ Given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
+ Duke of Somewhere
Dukes of Swedish provinces
Duchies in Sweden have been allotted since the 13th century to powerful Swedes, almost always to Princes of Sweden and wives of the latter. From the beginning these duchies were often centers of regional power, where their dukes and duchesses had considerable executive authority of their own,...
. The novelty here is that Westling would be using his wife's ducal title, something new for men in Sweden.
Sweden discontinued in the 17th century the grant of provinces as territorial appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
s to royal princes which, as dukes thereof, they had governed semi-autonomously. Since then, these provincial dukedoms exist in the royal family only nominally, but each prince or princess traditionally maintains a special public connection to one. The sons of Swedish kings have held the princely title as a rank of nobility (e.g. Fredrik Vilhelm, Furste av Hessenstein
Frederick William von Hessenstein
Frederick William, Prince von Hessenstein , was a Swedish soldier and statesman. He was an extramarital son of King Frederick of Sweden and his mistress Hedvig Taube.-Biography:...
), as a courtesy title
Courtesy title
A courtesy title is a form of address in systems of nobility used for children, former wives and other close relatives of a peer. These styles are used 'by courtesy' in the sense that the relatives do not themselves hold substantive titles...
for an ex-dynast (e.g. Prins Oscar Bernadotte) and, most often, as a royal dynast (e.g. HRH Prince Bertil of Sweden, Duke of Halland
Prince Bertil, Duke of Halland
Prince Bertil of Sweden , Duke of Halland, was the third son of King Gustaf VI Adolf of Sweden and his first wife, Princess Margaret of Connaught.The prince was born at Stockholm...
).