The royal christening traditions that Prince Julian will share

As Prince Julian is christened this afternoon in the Royal Chapel of Drottningholm Palace, what Swedish royal traditions will he follow and share with his family?

There are several traditions that will continue today as Prince Julian is baptised. Let’s take a look at the Swedish royal christening traditions.

The christening gown

Prince Julian will be dressed in Gustaf Adolf’s christening gown, first used in 1906. Every royal baby since King Gustaf Adolf has worn the gown for their ceremony. Following the religious service, Julian’s name and baptism date will be engraved on the cream coloured cape that Prince Gustaf Adolf and his wife, Princess Sybilla, added to the gown for their eldest child, Princess Margaretha’s baptism in 1935.

The gown is made of light, crisp cotton batiste and covered in Valenciennes, a popular type of bobbin lace. It has small cap sleeves, trimmed with more lace. 

Order of the Seraphim

At the end of the christening ceremony, King Carl XVI Gustaf presents the royal baby with their Order of the Seraphim sash. He pins the baby sash on their christening gown; they will not wear the Order again until they are 18.

Water from a spring on Öland

The Swedish Royal Family traditionally uses water from a spring on the island of Öland (where the Royal Family has their summer home, Solliden Palace). This tradition was started by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia with the christening of their daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, in 1977. The water will be in Drottningholm’s gold baptismal font.

Karl XV’s cradle

After the christening ceremony, a reception will be held in Drottningholm Palace for Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia to greet their guests. As the other royal babies have done over the past several decades, Prince Julian will lay in Karl XV’s cradle as the guests come through. King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia will host lunch later in the afternoon.

One tradition he will not follow is the live broadcast of his ceremony. Instead, SVT will be in the chapel to record the Christian ceremony but will only air a summary on Sunday of the events for the Swedish public. His aunts, father, cousins and brothers all had their christenings aired live on SVT, but it was decided that Julian’s ceremony would not follow this tradition.