Wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling


The wedding of Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling took place on 2010 in Stockholm Cathedral. It had been described as "Europe's biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981". Westling thereby acquired Victoria's ducal title, becoming a Swedish prince and Duke of Västergötland.
In time for the wedding, a joint monogram of their initials was created.
WWW royalcourt.se/royalcourt/...

Background

Victoria is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. As the firstborn of the family, she was designated heir apparent in 1980, ahead of her younger brother.
Westling was Victoria's personal trainer at Master Training. In July 2002, Victoria and Westling were pictured kissing for the first time at a birthday party for Caroline Kreuger, a close friend of Victoria's. Westling and Victoria's engagement was announced on 24 February 2009. The wedding was set to take place in Stockholm Cathedral on 19 June 2010, the 34th anniversary of her parents' marriage and a traditional wedding date of the Swedish Royal Family. The chosen year 2010 also marks the 200th year since Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte, from whom the Royal House of Sweden descends, became heir presumptive to the Swedish throne.

Preparations and finances

On 17 September 2009, the cathedral parish of Stockholm announced that there would be a restoration of Stockholm Cathedral during the period January–April 2010, and costing Swedish kronor. The wedding itself cost about kronor which was paid half by the Swedish Royal Family and half by the Swedish government from tax money. This was criticized by some Swedish citizens but the argument was debunked by official response saying that the wedding will generate equivalent or more revenue from the event. This argument was mostly seen as an excuse to continue the monarchy system, rather than evaluating their present-day relevance.

Celebrations

On 24 November 2009 it was decided that the days between the Swedish national day on 6 June and the wedding date on 19 June would be Love Stockholm 2010 days. With festivities for residents and visitors such as music, art, culture, food, design, and history, the city of Stockholm had hoped for sponsor deals to pay for the arrangements.
On 18 June, the Parliament of Sweden honoured the couple with a gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall. Performers at the gala included the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Malena Ernman, Helen Sjöholm, and Peter Jöback. The famous Swedish band Roxette was reunited on stage, and they performed their hit song "The Look".

Insignia at the wedding

On the morning of the wedding, the Crown of Sweden's Heir Apparent and Prince Wilhelm's Crown were removed from their showcases in the Treasury at the Royal Palace of Stockholm. They were placed on each side of the altar in the cathedral. The crowns are part of a tradition, a crown is used in association with the person the occasion is about. Princess Sofia Albertina's crown is also associated with Victoria as it was used at her christening. Princess Sofia Albertina's crown was later used at the wedding of Prince Carl Phillip.

Wedding service

The wedding service began at 15:30 local time in Stockholm Cathedral, with around 1,100 guests present. The music in the ceremony was headed by Gustaf Sjökvist, court organist and organist for the Cathedral Parish of Stockholm. He was also in charge of the music during the wedding of Victoria's parents in 1976.
The service was conducted by Anders Wejryd, Archbishop of Uppsala. He was assisted by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Royal Court Chief Chaplain, and Dr Antje Jackelén, Bishop of Lund. The Great Marriage Litany was sung by Åke Bonnier, Dean of the Cathedral and Royal Court Chaplain.
Victoria's white satin dress was by Swedish designer Pär Engsheden and had a five meter long train. She wore Empress Josephine's cameo diadem which her mother, Queen Silvia, and two of her paternal aunts wore when they married.
The first piece of music that was played was written by Karin Rehnqvist especially for the couple as a gift from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music.
Victoria walked down the aisle with her father, who then handed her over to Daniel. The wedding couple then stood in front of the archbishop, who told them about the importance of supporting each other in a marriage. After Victoria and Daniel were pronounced husband and wife, Swedish singers Agnes Carlsson and Björn Skifs finished the ceremony with the song "When You Tell The World You're Mine", written for the couple. Victoria and Daniel walked under crossed swords after stepping out of the cathedral.

Debate about handing over the bride

The couple wanted the king to lead the crown princess to the altar and there hand her over to the groom. This created a public debate in Sweden, as that would have been contrary to the established customs of the Church of Sweden, where bride and groom walk up to the altar together. Critics among the clergy held that the symbolism in handing over the bride from father to groom reflects reactionary societal norms, as if an unmarried woman is the property of her father and is about to turn into the proprietary ownership of the groom. The Royal Court defended the handing over with the statement that, "the king conveys the heir to the throne and hands her over to a man who has been accepted". In the end a compromise was reached, with the king handing over the crown princess to her groom before they reached the altar.

Carriage procession

A carriage procession followed the ceremony, in which the wedding couple was transported through the streets of Stockholm. On their way they passed by twenty musical bands, nineteen of which were military. Victoria and Daniel then proceeded in the royal barge Vasaorden over Stockholm's waters; the same barge that was used by Victoria's parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, during their wedding in 1976. 500,000 people are estimated to have gathered to watch the procession, which was nearly seven kilometers long. 18 fighter jets flew across the sky as the barge approached its landing place at the royal palace, where the wedding banquet was later held.
The wedding of Victoria and Daniel was the biggest event that has ever been covered on television in Stockholm, according to Sveriges Television.

Guest list

Notable guests include:

The bride's paternal family

The bride's maternal family

  • Ralf de Toledo Sommerlath and Charlotte de Toledo Sommerlath, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
  • * Carmita Sommerlath Baudinet and Pierre Baudinet, the bride's cousin and her husband
  • ** Thibault Radigues de Chennevière, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • ** Chloé Radigues de Chennevière, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • * Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath and Ms Bettina Aussems, the bride's cousin and his partner
  • * Susanne de Toledo Sommerlath
  • ** Tim de Toledo Sommerlath, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • ** Philip de Toledo Sommerlath, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • ** Giulia de Toledo Sommerlath, Bridesmaid, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • Walther L. Sommerlath and Ingrid Sommerlath, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
  • * Sophie Pihut-Sommerlath, the bride's cousin
  • * Patrick Sommerlath and Maline Luengo, the bride's cousin and his partner
  • ** Leopold Lundén Sommerlath, the bride's cousin, once removed
  • * Camilla Lundén, the bride's cousin ex-wife
  • * Helena Christina Sommerlath, the bride's cousin
  • * Vivien Nadine Sommerlath, Bridesmaid, the bride's cousin
  • Carlos Augusto de Toledo Ferreira and Senhora Anna Luiza de Toledo Ferreira
  • Senhora Maria Virginia Braga Leardi and Exmo Senhor Eduardo Longo
  • Senhor Luiz Machado de Melo and Senhora Maria Fernanda Machado de Melo
  • Exma Senhora Vera Quagliato
  • Senhor Carlos M. Quagliato
  • Senhor Pedro Ferreira

The groom's family

  • Olle Westling and Ewa Westling, the groom's parents
  • * Anna Westling Blom, the groom's sister and Mikael Söderström
  • **Hedvig Blom, the groom's niece
  • **Vera Blom, ''the groom's niece ''

Foreign royalty

Members of reigning royal families

Members of non-reigning royal families

Religious figures

Politicians and diplomats

  • Stefan Mikaelsson
Swedish Parliament
Party leaders
Group leaders
Committee chairmen and chairwomen
The government
State secretaries
  • State Secretary H. G. Wessberg, Prime Minister's Office, and Marianne Reimers-Wessberg
  • State Secretary Gustaf Lind, Prime Minister's Office, and Charlotta Lind
  • State Secretary Magnus G. Graner, Ministry for Justice, and Mrs Susanne Graner
  • State Secretary Hans Lindblad, Ministry of Finance, and District Medical Officer Agnetha Lindblad
Former speakers
Former prime pinister
Public authorities
County governors
Republican heads of state
Ambassadors to Sweden
  • Ruhi Hado and Mrs Blegina Hado
  • Fatha Mahraz and Mrs Wahiba Mahraz
  • Matthew W. Barzun and Mrs Brooke Barzun
  • Domingos Culolo and Mrs Deolinda Pedro Culolo
  • Hernán Massini Ezcurra and Mrs Silvia Fosabril
  • Paul Stephens and Mrs Christina Stephens
  • Dr Ulrike Tilly and Dr Antonio Núñez y García-Saúco
  • Imtiaz Ahmed and Mrs Daisy Ahmed
  • Andrei Grinkevich and Mrs Julia Grinkevich
  • Marc Baptist and Mrs Myriam Baptist-Devuyst
  • Milton René Soto Santiesteban and Mrs Lilian Trujillo Bustillo
  • Darko Zelenika
  • Bernadette Sebage Rathedi
  • Antonino Mena Gonçalves and Mrs Elisabeth Mena Gonçalves
  • Andrew J. Mitchell and Mrs Helen Mitchell
  • Ivan Tzvetkov and Mrs Ira Yaneva
  • Alexandra Volkoff
  • José Miguel Cruz and Mrs María Angélica Toledo Arcos
  • Rafael Nieto Navia and Mrs Maria Teresa Loaiza de Nieto
  • André Hombessa and Mrs Augustine Hombessa
  • Vladimir Matek and Mrs Cecile Elise Matek
  • Pavlos Anastasiades and Mrs Maria Anastasiades
  • Tom Risdahl Jensen and Mrs Helle Bundgaard
  • Roberto Betancourt Ruales and Mrs Paula Teixeira Guerra de Betancourt
  • Osama Elmagdoub and Mrs Naglaa Mohamed Essameldin Elzawahry
  • Martin Rivera Gómez and Mrs Patricia Guirola de Rivera
  • Alar Streimann and Mrs Marika Streimann
  • Dina Mufti Sid and Mrs Lina Kassa Feleke
  • Markus Lyra and Mrs Iris Lyra
  • Joël De Zorzi and Mrs Soraya De Zorzi
  • Amiran Kavadze and Mrs Ia Kavadze
  • Joachim Rücker and Dr Ines Kirschner
  • Fernando Molina Girón and Mrs Victoria Eugenia Flores de Molina
  • Gabór Szentiványi
  • Gudmundur Á. Stefánsson and Mrs Jóna D. Karlsdóttir
  • Balkrishna Shetty and Mrs Vasundara Shetty
  • Rasoul Eslami and Mrs Fatemeh Eslami
  • Donal Hamill and Mrs Bernadette Hamill
  • Benny Dagan and Mrs Irit Dagan
  • Angelo Persiani and Mrs Lisette Ingo
  • Akira Nakajima and Mrs Keiko Nakajima
  • Purity Muhindi and Dr Keguro Joe Muhindi
  • Ali Al-Nikhailian and Mrs Hana'a Yaqoub Yousef Buqammaz
  • Maija Manika
  • Done Somvorachit and Mrs Douangchay Somvorachit
  • Nasrat El-Assaad and Dr Ruzica Gasovic
  • Remigijus Motuzas and Mrs Laimut Motuzien
  • Agon Demjaha and Mrs Teuta Demjaha
  • Kamarudin Mustafa and Datin Nik Rahua Nik Ab Rahman
  • Norma Pensado Moreno and Mr Patricio Montecinos
  • Enkhmandakh Baldan and Mrs Oyunbileg Davaasuren
  • Zohour Alaoui and Mr Karim Kamal Bernoussi
  • Pedro Comissário Afonso and Mrs Mariana Dava
  • Theresia Samaria and Mr Johannes Samaria
  • Jan Edward Craanen and Mrs Annick Georgelin
  • Godknows Boladei Igali and Mrs Tokoni Igali
  • Ri Hui Chol and Mrs Kim Jae Un
  • Anne K Lund and Mr Erling Magnusson
  • Nadeem Riyaz and the Ambassador Ayesha Riyaz
  • Ricardo Quintero and Mrs Alejandra Alemán
  • Gilbert Chauny de Porturas and Mrs Carmen de Chauny
  • Maria Zeneida Collinson and Mr Michael Collinson
  • Michal Czy and Mrs Elbieta Czy
  • Raduta Dana Matache and Mr Constantin Matache
  • Igor Neverov and Mrs Elena Neverova
  • Jacqueline Mukangira and Mr Charles Nahayo
  • Abdulrahman Gdaia and Princess Lubna Z.M. Al Thunayan Al Saud
  • Henri Antoine Turpin and Mrs Virginie Turpin
  • Ninoslav D. Stojadinovi and Mrs Andjelka Stojadinovi
  • Vojislav Šuc and Mrs Dragica Šuc
  • Sophonia Rapulane Makgetla and Dr Neva Makgetla
  • Cho Hee-yong and Mrs Lee Yang
  • Enrique Viguera and Mrs Marta Altolaguirre
  • Ranjith P. Jayasooriya and Mrs Cynthia Jayasooriya
  • Moses Mojwok Akol and Mrs Suzan John Ayowk Ajang
  • Kurt Höchner and Mrs Gila Höchner
  • Sheikha Najla Al Qassimi
  • Thanarat Thanaputti
  • Zergün Korutürk and H.R. Mr Selah Korutürk
  • Yevgen Perebyinis, Mrs Olha Perebyinis, and Mrs Ana Bernaldo De Quiros
  • Manuel Vieira Merola and Mrs Marta Dieste Friedheim
  • Archbishop Emil Paul Tscherrig
  • Nguyen Duc Hoa and Mrs Tran Nguyen Anh Thu
  • Anne Luzongo Mtamboh
  • Mary Sibusisiwe Mubi

Confederation of Swedish Enterprise

  • President Signhild Arnegård Hansen, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, and Director Michael Hansen
  • Director Kenneth Bengtsson, ICA Handlarnas AB, and Mrs Ann-Kristin Bengtsson

Organisations

  • Anna Ekström and Lars Ekström, M.Eng
  • Chairman Sture Nordh, Confederation of Professional Employees, and HR Supervisor Gudrun Nordh
  • Marcus Storch, MD, Chairman of the Nobel Foundation, and Mrs Gunilla Storch
Secretary General Karin Mattsson Weijber, Swedish Sports Confederation, and Mr Henric Weijber

Culture, media

  • Theatre Director Birgitta Svendén, Theatre Director from 1 April 2010, and Director Thomas Svendén
  • Lord in waiting and Concert Hall Director Stefan Forsberg, Stockholm Concert Hall, and Mrs Els-Marie Forsberg
  • Director Peter Hansson, CEO of the Gothenburg Opera, and Kristina Hansson
  • Director Eva Hamilton, VD, SVT, and Karl-Johan von Heland
  • Head of Swedish Radio Mats Svegfors, CEO Sveriges Radio AB, and Rigmor Svegfors
  • Director Jan Scherman, TV4, and Mrs Margareta Scherman
  • Editor-in-Chief Jan Helin, Aftonbladet, and Lawyer Charlotte Helin
  • Journalist Simon Johnson, Thomson Reuters
  • Ebba von Sydow

The Royal Academies and others

Patronage

  • Director Lena M. Lindén, Ph.D., Nordens Ark
  • Professor Johnny Ludvigsson, Chairman of the Child Diabetes Foundation
  • Director of Development Aid Christer Åkesson, the Church of Sweden's International Development Aid
  • Director of the Secretariat Siw Dreber, Radiohjälpen, Victoria Fund
  • Director Magnus N:son Engelbäck, Young Enterprise association
  • Operational Manager Kennet Fröjd, Swedish Development Centre for Disability Sport
  • National Director Annette Rihagen, Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Organisation, and Director Thord Axelsson
  • Agnetha Mbuyamba
  • Baron Johan Nordenfalk and Baroness Anna Lena Nordenfalk
  • Professor Lars Olson

Other

Personal friends

  • Mr Johan Beckman and Lady-in-waiting Mrs Eliane de Gunzburg Beckman
  • Countess Beck-Friis
  • State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage and Interior Designer Helena Belfrage
  • Registered Doctor Michaël Berglund and Caroline Berglund, B.A.
  • Director Hans Eric Brodin and Mrs Eva Benita Brodin
  • Baron Carl de Geer and Baroness Christina de Geer
  • Ambassador Ulf Dinkelspiel and Educational Adviser Mrs Louise Dinkelspiel
  • Department Head Marianne von der Esch
  • Director Sven Philip Sörensen and Mrs Marie-Louise Sörensen
  • Director Anders Lettström and Mrs Christina Lettström
  • Commander Bertil Nordström
  • Mrs Agneta Kreuger and Director Lars Abrahamson
  • Director Jan Öhrvall and Photographer Gunilla Öhrvall
  • Chairman Stefan Persson, H&M AB, and Mrs Denise Persson
  • Mrs Annika Kahm
  • Baron Gustaf Banér and Baroness Agneta Banér
  • Miss Christina Banér
  • Dr e.h. Achim Middelschulte and Frau Beate Middelschulte
  • Mr J. Christer Elfverson
  • Mrs Signe von der Esch
  • Mr Gilbert E. Kaplan and Mrs Lena Kaplan

The bride and groom's personal friends

  • Dr Constantin Beier and Dr Amelie Beier Middelschulte
  • Mr Michael Broms and Anna Jussil Broms, LL.M.
  • Mr Marten Bunnemann and Mrs Annika Bunnemann
  • Captain Christoffer Cederlund and Mrs Charlotte Kreuger Cederlund
  • Baron Jacob de Geer and Baroness Nicole de Geer
  • Mr Peder Dinkelspiel and Mrs Caroline Dinkelspiel
  • Mr Niclas Engsäll and Mrs Andrea Engsäll
  • Mrs Josephine Génetay and Mr Anderson Zapata Diaz
  • Mr Marcus Josefsson and Mrs Sophie Josefsson
  • Mr Jesper Nilsson and Mrs Caroline Nilsson
  • Director Karl-Johan Persson and Mrs Leonie Persson
  • Mr Gustaf Wiiburg and Mrs Rebecka Wiiburg
  • Mr Patrik Vrbanc and Mrs Camilla Vrbanc Vidjeskog
  • Mr Lars Hellström and Mrs Johanna Hellström
  • Mr Niklas Ek and Mrs Anna Ek
  • Mr Andreas Nylin and Mrs Carina Nylin
  • Director Alessandro Catenacci and Mrs Susanne Catenacci
  • Mr Patrik Gummeson and Mrs Linda Gummeson
  • Jesper Ederth, Ph.D., and Registered Doctor Helena Ederth
  • Mr Oscar Hallberg and Mrs Veronica Bångfeldt
  • Mr Emil Larsson and Mrs Therése Danneman
  • Mr Fredrik Arnander and Mrs Jennifer Arnander
  • Mr Johan Skarborg and Mrs Carolina Skarborg
  • Mr Staffan Svensson and Mrs Lena Svensson
  • Mr Martin Brunehult Wermelin and Mrs Marie Wermelin
  • Director Erik Paulsson, PEAB, and Mrs Gunilla Paulsson
  • Director Anders Lindberg, JKL Stockholm, and Civil Economist Eva Lindberg
  • Mr Hans Boman and Mrs Marianne Boman
  • Mr Björn Örås and Mrs Bibbi Örås
  • Consul General Barbro Osher and Mr Bernard Osher
  • Mr David M. D. Greenfeld and Mrs Dorothy Greenfeld
  • Mr Micael Bindefeld and Mr Nicklas Sigurdsson
  • Mrs Sara Matson Westover and Mr James Westover
  • Dr Diane Mickley and Dr Steven Mickley
  • Chairman Michael Treschow and Professor Lena Treschow Torell
  • Jörgen Elofsson and Mrs Christina Elofsson
  • Professor Christopher Gillberg and Carina Gillberg
  • Director Lars Enochson and Mrs Elisabeth Enochson
  • Miss Louise Gottlieb and Baron Gustav Thott

Wedding banquet

The wedding banquet was held on the night of the wedding day in the Hall of State at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Sweden's finest ceremonial hall. The Hall of State was renovated for the occasion. 98 guests of the nearly 600 invited guests were accommodated in the main table. Pink and white flowers were strewn over the table decorations, which included silver candelabra and silver bowls. On the seats of honour were sitting the wedding couple; their parents King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia and Mr and Mrs Westling; Victoria's godparents Ralf de Toledo Sommerlath, Princess Désirée, Baroness Silfverschiöld, the Queen of the Netherlands and [Harald V of Norway|the Albert II of Belgium|King of Norway] as well as Count Carl Johan Bernadotte of Wisborg, the King's uncle; Princess Margaretha, Mrs. Ambler, the King's eldest sister; the Queen of Denmark, the King of the Belgians; Tarja Halonen, the President of Finland; and Anders Wejryd, the Archbishop of Uppsala.

Cake

The cake was an 11 tiered cake made of organic ingredients. The sides of the cake were decorated with four-leaf clovers, symbolising the crown princely couple and their wedding. Each layer of the cake was topped with several chocolate wafers with the royal couple's monogram in caramel. The top layer had a large version of the crown princely couple's monogram, reproduced in cast caramel. The crown princely couple's wedding cake was a gift from the Swedish Association of Bakers and Confectioners.

Titles for Daniel Westling

Sweden has only practiced absolute cognatic primogeniture since 1980. This means that Victoria is the first female heir apparent to marry. Westling became the first man of the people to obtain a new title or rank as the spouse of a Swedish princess since the Middle Ages. All previous princes have been born to royal parents of Swedish origin or have been foreign dukes that have married Swedish princesses. As a result, questions arose as to how Westling would be known after the wedding.
The Swedish Royal Court first announced on 2010 that upon his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria, who is Duchess of Västergötland, Westling would receive the titles of "Prince Daniel" and "Duke of Västergötland". It was further announced in May 2010, by the Swedish Royal Court, that Westling will be granted the style His Royal Highness upon his marriage to Crown Princess Victoria. He will thus be known as Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland. The last part of his title corresponds in form to the style used by other Swedish princes, including Victoria's younger brother Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland, i.e. Prince + Given name + Duke of Swedish Province. The novelty here is that Westling would be using his wife's ducal title, something new for men in Sweden.
Sweden discontinued in the 17th century the grant of provinces as territorial appanages to royal princes which, as dukes thereof, they had governed semi-autonomously. Since then, these provincial dukedoms exist in the royal family only nominally, but each prince or princess traditionally maintains a special public connection to one. The sons of Swedish kings have held the princely title as a rank of nobility, as a courtesy title for an ex-dynast and, most often, as a royal dynast.