Sweden’s Baby Prince Nicolas Christened at Drottningholm

Prince Nicolas of Sweden, the son of Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill, was christened today in a ceremony at the Drottningholm Palace Chapel.

Family members and close friends joined the Royal Family for the intimate ceremony, which was officiated Archbishop Antje Jackelén, Bishop Emeritus Lars-Göran Lönnermark, and Reverend Michael Bjerkhagen. Princess Madeleine (in Valentino) carried her son into the chapel while Mr O’Neill had the couple’s 19-month-old daughter Leonore on his arm.

They were followed by the godparents they selected for Prince Nicolas – maternal uncle Prince Carl Philip, paternal aunt Countess Natascha Abensperg und Traun, Madeleine’s cousin Gustaf Magnuson, Chris’s brother-in-law Henry d’Abo, and two friends, Katarina von Horn and Marco Wajselfisz.

The ceremony was conducted partly in Swedish, partly in English, and provided a number of moments to remember: Princess Leonore opting to sit on the floor instead of her parents’ laps, then becoming fixated upon the baptismal font; Prince Nicolas showing off his strong lungs when he was disturbed by movement and crying for some time; and Princess Estelle rushing out of the chapel to then return clutching a dummy to offer her crying cousin.

Readings were given by Chris, Prince Carl Philip and Countess Natascha, and King Carl XVI Gustaf conferred upon his first grandson the Order of the Seraphim – complete with baby sash. Once the ceremony was complete, Madeleine, Chris and Nicolas went outside to greet well-wishers, before leading the guests back to the Palace.

Ahead of the reception, guests were greeted by Princess Madeleine, Mr O’Neill, the King and Queen and Chris’s mother Eva O’Neill in the Ehrenstrahl Hall. Prince Nicolas was nearby in the Karl XV cradle that was used at the christenings of both his mother and his sister.

Filed under Sweden
Tagged Christening, Orders, Prince Nicolas of Sweden.

3 Responses to Sweden’s Baby Prince Nicolas Christened at Drottningholm