[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

[picappgallerysingle id="5376791"]

[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

Princess Madeleine of Sweden has become engaged to boyfriend Jonas Bergström.

(Photo: Charles Hammarsten och Patrik Österberg/All Over Press)

The happy couple were joined by their families for a private engagement dinner Sunday at Solliden Palace, the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family. Madeleine’s elder sister, Crown Princess Victoria, will be marrying June 19th of next year.

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia are reported to be very pleased that in the space of six months they will be gaining two sons-in-law – Jonas and Princess Victoria’s fiance, Daniel Westling.

The engagement announcements of both Victoria and Madeleine are a stark contrast to their brother, Prince Carl Philip. He broke off a long-term relationship with his girlfriend, Emma Pernald, in March of this year.

See the original story (in Swedish) from svenskdam.se

A Queen In The Making

A pretty brunette with shining brown eyes gleefully shows off her engagement ring. She is happy and radiant, a smile from ear to ear.

Like all newly-betrothed women, the girl is in the midst of wedding plans. Unlike most of those brides-to-be, however, she’s going to be rehearsing a ceremony that will be seen by millions. Some of her decisions will be influenced by government officials and a royal palace: How much of the media should attend? Do we seat this king by that prince? Will this president attend?

This happy lady is no ordinary fiancée. She is Princess Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée, the future Queen of Sweden.

Born July 14, 1977, Victoria is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia. Through her father she is descended from Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Victoria has two younger siblings, Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip, both popular figures in Sweden.

Carl Philip was born the Crown Prince of Sweden, but in January 1980, nearly a year after his birth, a change in the Act of Succession introduced equal primogeniture (a female can inherit before a male). The outgoing toddler Princess Victoria then became heir apparent.

Since that time Victoria has been prepped in the ways of ‘queening’. She attended a state elementary school and Enskilda Gymnasiet in Stockholm, graduating in 1996. Afterward, she studied for a year at a university in Angers, France. The Crown Princess followed this up with conflict resolution studies and international peacekeeping at the Swedish National Defense College, and concluded her studies at Yale University in Connecticut.

Crown Princess Victoria has traveled the world representing her father and her country. She speaks fluent English as well as her native Swedish, charming her audiences wherever she goes. At home, she has established The Crown Princess Victoria Fund, which aims to provide support for leisure and recreational activities for children and young people with functional disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Every year Victoria visits several clubs or projects that have been granted money via her fund. These visits are not announced, but kept private. Sveriges Television often accompanies Victoria on these particular outings and airs only short programs from these visits.

Private Princess

The Crown Princess has always been quiet about her private life. The lack of news from the royal court has caused speculation to form around all of Victoria’s relationships, and it has caused annoyance to the family. Her fiance, Daniel Westling, hates the press attention and has avoided it whenever possible.

Given this gun-shy reaction to the media, it is no wonder that Daniel and Victoria took their time in the relationship. As the future Queen of Sweden, Victoria will always be at the forefront of Swedish news and culture, documented at every turn. She was certainly used to it, and understood that Daniel was not.

After a 7-year courtship, Daniel decided that he would be able to handle the pressure of being a royal consort. During their engagement interview, he stated that “I have definitely needed this time to adjust myself to this and to understand what this is all about. It would have been naïve of me to get down on my knee and propose marriage after just one year. I think that would have been a mistake. Quite simply, I have needed this time.”

Westling is a successful personal trainer and business owner, and runs a company called Balance Training which has three gyms in central Stockholm.

Westling is older than Victoria by four years, born on September 15, 1973. He met the Crown Princess in 2002 when he was employed as her personal trainer. The pair went on to form a solid friendship, and a few months later at a friend’s party, a photographer snapped them kissing.

Though Victoria would not divulge details, she did confirm that she did “have someone in my life.”

Victoria will marry Daniel in Stockholm on June 19th of next year. The Swedish Royal Court has confirmed that upon his marriage to Victoria, who is Duchess of Västergötland, Westling will receive the titles of “Prince Daniel” and “Duke of Västergötland”.

This marriage sets the precedent in Sweden of a commoner man marrying the female heir apparent and being granted a royal title.