Although the lavish wedding of Crown Princess Victoria (held this morning) prompted arrivals as early as last Thursday - there was one contingent - noticeably not present.
When a brouhaha erupted with the media over "images" and the rights to broadcast around the globe, three of the major news organizations bowed out.
No matter.
The Royal Court was quick to note that more than 950 guests would watch the couple tie the knot in the exquisitely refurbished Stockholm Cathedral (Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito, Jordan's King Abdullah and Queen Sofia of Spain, were in attendance, for instance).
The wedding came with a hefty price tag of 20 million kronor ($2.6 million).
But, to some, it was worth the investment in Sweden's "image" and subsequent future .
Royalists hope it will boost the waning popularity of the Swedish monarchy that dates back at least 1,000 years.
Victoria, 32, is the oldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia - and thus - first in line to the throne.
The strong-willed Royal has two siblings (Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine).
She met her new husband - Daniel Westling - at a local gym in Stockholm eight years ago.
Mr. Westling will henceforth be known as "Prince Daniel", Duke of Vaestergoetland, the palace announced.
It is an honor not bestowed on a commoner since the medieval age.
"This is the biggest wedding in Europe for a long time," Royalty expert Roger Lundgren told a reporter at The Associated Press before the nupitals took place this morning.
The guest list included all the European Royal houses including Belgium's King Albert II, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Prince Albert II of Monaco and the former Greek monarch, King Constantine.
Prince Edward and Sophie were also on the list, but Prince Charles wasn't, for some inexplcable reason.
Insiders have tittered that Edward and Sopie were invited because they are two British Royals that the future Queen Victoria socializes with.
A posse of high-profile jet-set guests from the Social elite also mingled with the celebrated guests - and included - Per Gessle from 1980s rock group Roxette and golfer Tiger Woods' mother-in-law - Barbro Holmberg.
The dazzling ceremony began at 3:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m. ET) at the Stockholm Cathedral.
Although the vows took about an hour, the fanfare in the aftermath, was quiet spectacular.
The couple emerged from Stockholm Cathedral to a gantlet of crossed swords, gingerly stepped into a beautifully-crafted antique horse-drawn carriage, then proceeded to ride through the town to the cheers of thousands of people lining the streets.
The fairy-tale procession took the handsome couple to Stockholm's harbor, where they boarded a gilt longboat driven by 18 naval oarsmen, which took them across the harbour.
A formation of 16 fighter jets performed a flyby as the Royal Boat approached the Palace landing which was packed with sailors, cheering civilians, curiosity-seekers, and ecstatic well-wishers.
This evening, a wedding banquet crowns the glorious day, naturally!
Congrats!
Prince Edward & Sopie attended Stockhold blow out!
No comments:
Post a Comment