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Sweden

Swedish newborn Prince’s name revealed!

The youngest member of the Swedish Royal Family’s name was announced today during a cabinet meeting by his grandfather Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and in the presence of his aunt Crown Princess Victoria. The young Prince, son of Prince Carl-Philip and Princess Sofia received the names Alexander Erik Hubertus Bertil and also received the title Duke of Södermanland. He will be known as Prince Alexander.

The Duke of Södermanland title has been created in the Kingdom of Sweden several times. Södermanland is one of the provinces of Sweden. The title was last held by Prince Wilhelm, son of King Gustaf V, from his birth in 1884 until his death in 1965.

The young Prince was born on 19 April 2016 at 6.25PM. It is the first child for Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, who were married on 13 June 2015 at the Royal Chapel at Stockholm Palace and the new Princess’ pregnancy was confirmed on 15 October 2015.

The newborn Prince weighs 3595 grams and is 49 cm in length.

The new Prince will be fifth in line to succession to the throne of Sweden behind his aunt, Crown Princess Victoria and her daughter and son, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar and his father Prince Carl Philip. A Te Deum thanksgiving service is scheduled for later today as is usual for Swedish royal births and was most recently done for Princess Victoria’s second child Prince Oscar who was born on 2 March 2016. A royal 21-gun salute was given to celebrate the birth.

A christening is not expected to take place for another three to four months and will most likely be preceded by the christening of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s newborn son Prince Oscar. It will probably take place in the Royal Chapel at Stockholm Palace and by then we will also know who the godparents will be.

A change in law in 1980 made the child’s aunt Crown Princess in favour of the child’s father Prince Carl Philip, who was born in 1979 and was briefly Crown Prince before the change in law took effect. This change in law was already well on its way when Prince Carl Philip was born and Crown Princess Victoria was treated as Crown Princess from birth.