A royal playmate is on the way for Prince George… In the wake of the excitement over three royal weddings last weekend, royal admirers were treated to more good news, courtesy of the Swedish Royal Court…
H.R.H. Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O’Neill
Photo: Brigitte Grenfeldt, copyright Royal Court, Sweden
Official word came from the Palace on Tuesday that fairytale newlywed Princess Madeleine and her dashing British-American financier husband, Mr. Christopher O’Neill, are delighted to announce that The Princess is expecting their first child…
This will be grandchild no. 2 for King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. In March 2012, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel had a baby girl, Princess Estelle, who will be thrilled to have a baby cousin just in time for her second birthday.
The newlyweds met two years ago, when The Princess went to New York to mend a broken heart. ‘She is always happy when she is with him,’ said a source to the New York Times.
“From the very outset, I immediately felt something special with Madeleine,” said Mr. O’Neill about the progression of their friendship.
“I felt part of the family right from the very beginning,’ he said. ‘Madeleine’s family is very warm and we have a very good time when we all see each other.”
He eventually summoned up the courage to ask the King for his daughter’s hand in marriage. “Thankfully she said yes,” he said.
“I appreciate Chris for his warmth and his humour,” said Princess Madeleine. ‘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.”
The Princess and Christopher wed on June 8 of this year in a lavish ceremony in the Royal Chapel at Royal Palace in Stockholm. Guests included “Duran Duran’s John Taylor, Prince Nikolaos of Greece, Karl-Johan Persson – the chief executive of fashion company Hennes & Mauritz (H&M), and Roxette stars Per Gessle and Marie Fredriksson.”
As for receiving a title after the wedding, the groom preferred to remain a private citizen.
The lovebirds enjoyed an enchanting honeymoon in the Seychelles, until paparazzi put a damper on things by publishing intimate photos of them on their secluded island hideaway.
H.R.H. Princess Madeleine and
Mr. Christopher O’Neill
Photo: Patrick Demarchelier,
copyright Royal Court, Sweden
“We continue to thank everyone for their loving warmth and well wishes regarding our marriage,” The Princess posted on Facebook, six days after the wedding.
“Sadly, the Swedish tabloid press have taken it upon themselves to destroy our privacy and place private photographs of us in their publications today.
“The one thing we wish is that, if only for these few days, our privacy can now be respected.”
“Being caught by someone broke the bubble,” said The Princess, in an interview with Svenska Dagbladet, a Swedish newspaper. “It made us feel very sad.”
“That day I was sitting at the computer,” added Christopher. “I realised that, unfortunately, the honeymoon was over.”
The couple were vacationing at the same hotel where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge stayed for their honeymoon.
Princess Madeleine has since resumed her royal duties, and the Palace confirms that there will be no foreseeable change to Her Royal Highness’s royal diary or charity work for the time being. The Princess works for the World Childhood Foundation, a non-profit group founded by her mother, in New York City.
Christopher O’Neill’s German mother, Eva, happens to be a close friend of Prince Charles.
