It was a beautiful day on 13 June 2015 when Prince Carl Philip, then 36, married Sofia Hellqvist, then 30, at the Royal Chapel in Stockholm Palace, which was broadcast live by Swedish channel, SVT.
Their engagement was announced on 27 June 2014. In the announcement, Carl Philip and Sofia through the Swedish Royal Court said, “We are looking forward to a summer wedding in the middle of June when Sweden is extremely beautiful. This will be a big day for us, and we are absolutely delighted.”
The banns of marriage were read on 17 May 2015 at the Royal Chapel. On 12 June, a private dinner for invited guests was hosted by the Swedish Royal Family on the island of Skeppsholmen.
The Right Reverend Lars-Göran Lönnermark and Reverend Michael Bjerkhagen conducted the ceremony. Carl Philip’s best friend, Jan-Åke Hansson, performed the best man duties. Crown Princess Victoria’s oldest child, Estelle was one of the bridesmaids. The other bridesmaids were Anaïs and Chloé Sommerlath, Carl Philip’s second cousins, and Sofia’s goddaughter, Tiara Larsson.
Following in the steps of Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine, Sofia was escorted halfway down the aisle by her father before walking the rest of the way with Carl Philip. This decision came from Victoria’s wedding in 2010. Swedish tradition has the bride and groom walk down the aisle together. However, Victoria wanted her father to escort her. Therefore, a compromise was reached between Victoria’s wishes and Swedish tradition. The King walked her halfway before she continued on with Daniel. The King escorted Madeleine the same way before she met Chris to finish the walk up the aisle.
Ida Sjöstedt designed Sofia’s wedding dress. Following the royal family’s tradition regarding bouquets, Sofia included myrtle from the grounds of Sofiero Castle.
After the ceremony, the couple rode in a horse-drawn carriage back to Stockholm Palace, where they made a balcony appearance with their friends and family. There was a 21 gun salute in honour of the royal couple at this time. Then, Carl Philip made a short speech to the adoring crowds, and King Carl Gustaf led the crowd in four cheers for the newlyweds. A reception was then held in the White Sea Ballroom inside the palace.
Photo: Erika Gerdemark, The Royal Court, Sweden
On the 15 October, just four months after their wedding, it was announced that Sofia was pregnant with their first child. Their son, Prince Alexander, Duke of Södermanland, was born on 19 April 2016.
congratulations to a gorgeous couple and their beautiful child