Sweden will soon welcome a new baby prince or princess with Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia expecting their third child. The baby is expected to arrive in late March or early April.
The new baby will be the first royal child to be born after The King reduced the Royal House by a third, from 15 people to 10. The five who were pushed out were his grandchildren – the sons and daughters of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine. This was done in an attempt by the Swedish monarch to minimise the future expenses that the Swedish monarchy will have.
This, combined with the fact that the ongoing pandemic is still raging in Sweden, will lead to the new prince or princess being welcomed to the family in a far different way to usual. According to Swedish media, the Royal Court does not plan for an officially arranged press conference with Prince Carl Philip at the hospital, something that has otherwise been a tradition. The newly-born child will not be styled as a Royal Highness but will be a Prince or Princess and get their own duchy.
When the child is born, the Marshal of the Royal Court will send out a statement, as per usual with a royal birth, and there will also be various ceremonial aspects that will follow in the days to come. This includes the council at Stockholm Palace where The King informs the government about the royal child’s title, name and duchy, as well as the witness confirmation, where the president, prime minister and marshal get to see the new-born child. Every time The King has become a grandfather, he has held a council, and he has usually had the Crown Princess by his side.
The ceremonial parts also include Te Deum, a religious service in the Royal Chapel. Due to the pandemic, it is now uncertain whether such a service can be carried out in a traditional manner. When asked by the Swedish press, the Royal Court says that one must look at the situation when it becomes relevant and that the infection situation at the time will determine whether it is possible to carry out the ceremony. The Swedish Royal Court’s information director Margareta Thorgren says: “When it comes to the birth itself, it is the coronavirus that affects many plans. The pandemic makes it a little different this time.”
