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ROYAL FAMILY

Swedish royals set baptism date for princess

Sweden's royal family has set the date for the baptism of Princess Leonore, and has taken a step away from family tradition in their choice of venue.

Swedish royals set baptism date for princess
Photo: Kungahuset

Leonore, the daughter of Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill, lives in New York with her parents. But the religious ceremony will take place on June 8th in Sweden, at the church at Drottningholm Palace estate where the king and queen live in the summers.

The palace, set on the shores of Lake Mälaren near Stockholm, was also where Princess Madeleine and her new husband held their wedding celebration in June 2013.


Princess Madeleine and Chris O'Neill arrive at Drottningholm after their wedding

The streets of Stockholm were not quite as thronged for Madeleine's nuptials as for the wedding of her older sister to Daniel Westling a few years before. But The Local spoke with several flag-waving enthusiasts who lined the route from the palace to Lake Mälaren, where Madeleine and Chris boarded a steam boat and headed west to Drottningholm.

READ ALSO: The Local's live blog from Princess Madeleine's wedding


A family in central Stockholm waiting for the wedding cortege to pass by

IN PICTURES: What Swedish well-wishers had to say about Princess Madeleine's wedding

The choice of Drottningholm was not in line with royal family tradition. Princess Madeleine and her two older siblings, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Carl Philip, were baptized in the Stockholm Palace church, which seats 160 people. The crown princess also chose to baptize Princess Estelle at this church, which is considerably bigger than the one on Drottningholm. 


Princess Madeleine attends Princess Estelle's baptism at Drottningholm Church

A spokesperson at the palace told Expressen that the baptism may be aired live on television. Princess Leonore, fifth in line to the throne, was born in New York on February 20th this year. 

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The mistress of robes (2L) and the prime minister (R) discussed the princess' name 

The princess' full name is Leonore Lilian Maria. The name Lilian is likely a nod to Princess Madeleine's aunt, Welsh-born Princess Lilian who died in 2013. 


Princess Madeleine at Princess Lilian's funeral

Several other names were in the running according to society gossip magazines and Swedish bet makers, including family name Désirée.

IN PICTURES: Swedes react to news of the baby princess name

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