On Sunday, Princess Ines was christened in a lovely ceremony at the Drottningholm Palace Chapel. She is the second child, and the youngest daughter, of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia. This momentous day welcomed Princess Ines as the newest member of the Swedish royal family. At the time, it celebrated her parents’ tenth wedding anniversary.
The ceremony was marked by King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden leading the Scandinavian royals in attendance. Royal visitors included the hosts Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, who brought along their children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar. The attendance of the expanded royal family was a reminder of the historic nature of this occasion.
To her left and right in the service, standing at the front of the chapel, were the godparents of Princess Ines. In short, the five godparents selected are a terrific bunch. Signing them are Princess Estelle, Claes Kockum, Sandrine Kockum, Fredrik von der Esch, Tiara Larsson. Their roles were especially important during the ceremony as the family mourned even as they celebrated the newest addition to their line.
One of the most touching moments of the day came during a baptism ceremony for Prince Carl Philip & Princess Sofia’s sons. Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, and Prince Julian happily sprinkled canonically blessed water from Öland into the baptismal font. Their active involvement gave the event a familial feel, in line with the close-knit nature of Britain’s royal family.
Throughout the ceremony, Queen Silvia and Crown Princess Victoria were seen cooing over the angelic Princess Ines, who was seated opposite her parents. Princess Ines wore the traditional royal christening gown that has been in use since 1906, symbolizing continuity and heritage within the Swedish monarchy.
Prince Carl Philip came in his naval dress uniform, looking all sorts of dignified and royal elegant. At the same time, Princess Sofia mesmerized attendees in a beautiful yellow long-sleeved chiffon tea-length gown with a tiered skirt. The couple’s commitment to staunch tradition was clear the entire day.
The event was also graced by other members of the royal family. With them were Princess Madeleine and Chris O’Neill, who had come with their three children to enjoy the festivities. They sat in the second row, reinforcing the close-knit nature of the royal gatherings. Princess Sofia’s sister, Lina Hellqvist, arrived at the event with her husband, Mattias Wikström. Their daughters, Ellie and Lily, accompanied them, emphasizing the unity and closeness of the Sturgis family.
The ordination service ended with Bishop Johan Dalman, the chief priest of the Church of Sweden, as presiding bishop. He baptized Princess Ines and lifted her high above his head—the highlight of the day not just for the parents but for everyone in attendance.
