It had been described by Nick Squires in The Daily Telegraph as "Europe's biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981" and on 19 June 2010, Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, married her long term boyfriend, and commoner, Dainel Westling.
Preparations for Crown Princess Victoria's Wedding
Victoria met Daniel in 2002 when she began attending his gym in Stockholm. He was her personal trainer for some time and, from there, their romance began to blossom.
On 24 February 2009, the Swedish Royal Court announced that the couple would be married in 2010. The announcement came hours after the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, and the Swedish government had given their approval.
The wedding date was set for 19 June 2010, the same day in 1976 when Victoria's parents, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Silvia Sommerlath, married. It was also the same day in 1850 when Carl XV of Sweden married Louise of the Netherlands.
12.4 million Swedish kronor was used to renovate Stockholm Cathedral, the location of the wedding, whilst the wedding itself cost 20 million kronor. Half of the 20 million was paid by the Swedish Royal family and the other half by the government with tax money. This outraged some of the Swedish public
The Wedding Ceremony of Crown Princess Victoria
The wedding ceremony was conducted by Archibishop Anders Wejryd, with assistance from the Chaplain to the king, Lars-Göran Lönnermark; the Dean of the Cathedral Parish of Stockholm, Åke Bonnier; and the Bishop of Lund, Antje Jackelén.
The ceremony began at 15:30 local time. Victoria was clothed in a cream-coloured silk satin dress designed by Pär Engsheden. She was escorted down the aisle by her father who then handed her to Daniel.
After the Archbishop had pronounced them husband and wife, they were serenaded by Swedish singers, Agnes Carlsson and Björn Skifs, with a song written for the couple called "When You Tell the World You're Mine."
Crown Princess Victoria's Procession Through Stockholm
Following the ceremony, the newlyweds proceeded thorugh the streets of Stockholm on an open carriage. Along the way they were greeted by twenty musical bands.
The procession then took to the water as the couple proceeded through Stockholm's waters on a royal barge. It was the same barge that Victoria's parents used during their wedding.
It's believed that 500,000 people turned out on the streets to watch the procession.
The Gift of Haga Palace
Haga Palace, in Stockholm, was built as a royal residence for King Gustaf VI Adolf's children in 1802. It remained a royal residence until 1966, when it transferred to the government and it became a guesthouse for foreign dignitaries.
In 2009, Fredrik Reinfeldt, the Prime Minister of Sweden, gave the palace back to the royal court as a wedding gift to Victoria and Daniel. It will be their main residence for the forseeable future.
Daniel Westling Becomes Prince Daniel
After the wedding Daniel shall be titled His Royal Highness Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. He takes the ducal title of "Duke of Västergötland" because Victoria is the Duchess of Västergötland.
References:
Vancouver Sun: Thousand to Gather in Stockholm for Royal Wedding
Swedish Royal Court: Official Wedding Website
The Times: Sweden's Princess victoria to marry fitness trainer Daniel Westling
Business Week: Sweden's Princess Victoria Marries Daniel Westling
Luke Broadbent - I am 21-years-old and live in West Bromwich, England. My writing endeavours have usually been been in the area of sport. I have produced ...
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