[picappgallerysingle id="9128487"]Call it a Cinderella story in reverse, Daniel Westling will have a lot to adjust to in his new role as husband to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden. In any royal wedding, while the focus may be on the romantic aspect of it, the new spouse, whether male or female, will have sacrificed a great deal. In Daniel Westling’s instance, his family name and his privacy.
A former personal trainer to the Princess, the couple met in 2002. There was much speculation as to whether they would get married. Seven years later, the wait would end on February 24, 2009 when the engagement was officially announced.
In photos taken during the engagement news conference, Daniel Westling looked rather overwhelmed, with an almost ‘deer in the headlights’ look. It was clear at that point that his life would never be the same. As date for the wedding has approached he has developed a more comfortable appearance in front of the media as he is groomed for his role as consort to a future Queen.
It cannot be underestimated that the success of the new Prince Daniel’s role will rely on the support of his wife as well as his own proactiveness. Like other male consorts, he has no defined role other than one which he carves out for himself. Time will tell if he succeeds.
- Marilyn Braun
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[picappgallerysingle id="9156572"]The bride is the highlight of any wedding, in this case much more so if she is the first Swedish female successor to the throne to be married.
In this day and age sometimes it’s difficult to merge tradition with modern practices. In this case, the tradition of the Cameo tiara, worn by her mother Queen Silvia at her wedding, was not a choice that most people, prior to the wedding, would have chosen for Crown Princess Victoria. But in this case, it worked with the simplicity of her wedding dress. Designed by Pär Engshede, who has created many dresses for members of the royal family, it is made of cream-coloured duchess silk satin, with short sleeves and a turned-out collar, which follows the rounded neckline. The dress has a v-shaped back with covered buttons. The sash at the waist is buttoned up at the back.
Crown Princess Victoria wore Queen Sofia’s lace veil, last worn by Victoria’s mother, Queen Silvia at her 1976 marriage to King Carl XVI Gustaf. The 5 metre (about 16 feet) long train edged with a border, was fastenened at the waist, the same shape as the veil. Her unseen shoes were made of the same fabric as the dress.
Although she arrived at the the cathedral in a Rolls Royce, after the ceremony, the Princess and her new husband departed in the Parade Barouche from the Royal Mews, the same carriage used by her parents at their wedding exactly 34 years to the day. The traditions continued with the newlyweds taking a journey on the Royal Barge Vasaorden
- Marilyn Braun
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Allies and Friends
Since her engagement last February, Crown Princess Victoria has been waist-deep in wedding business: choosing her gown, flowers, and most importantly, her jewels.
Many details have not been made public yet, but one important tidbit we do know is that Victoria has chosen the Cameo tiara as her headpiece. One of the oldest jewels in the Swedish royal family’s collection, the Cameo tiara was worn by the princess’s mother, Silvia, when she married King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Owned by the French Empress Josephine, it was inherited by her granddaughter and namesake, Duchess Josephine of Leuchtenberg, who brought it to Sweden when she married the future King Oscar I. It has been passed down by the Bernadotte dynasty ever since.
We know what Victoria will be wearing for a tiara, but what about the other royal women attending the ceremony? What cascades of jewels will be adorning regal heads – and gowns – across Europe? Take a look at Royal Jewels of the World, Royal Dutch Jewels, and Royal Magazin for an idea of the magnificence that may appear on the day.
For more possibilities, Read more…
