Princess Madeleine, fourth in line to the Swedish throne, has married American banker Christopher O’Neill in a lavish but emotional wedding in Stockholm.
Madeleine, 30, wore a flowing silk Valentino dress, complete with a four-metre train, as she walked down the aisle, accompanied by her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf.
Boasting a beaming smile, her British-born groom appeared to fight back tears as he waited at the top of the aisle for her.
The wedding was witnessed by about 470 European royals, including Britain’s Earl and Countess of Wessex as well as a number of celebrities and several Manhattan socialites. Australian-born princess Mary of Denmark was also among the guest with her husband, Frederik.
The wedding ceremony contained hymns in both English and Swedish however Princess Madeleine read her vows in Swedish with Christopher, 38, reading his out in English.
Performances during the ceremony included songs by Roxette singer Marie Fredriksson and Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera,” Peter Joback.
Princess Madeleine looked stunning and every bit a member of the Swedish royal family, having long given up her notorious partying ways. In her 20s, Madeleine’s frequent visits to nightclubs and parties was favourite fodder of the local newspapers, but in recent years her charity work has garnered more favourable press.
Madeleine’s gown comprised a lace bodice with tiny vertical pleats at the waist that opened into a full skirt with a flowing train. Her hair was swept into an elegant bun atop of which sat a diamond studded tiara and a six-metre long cathedral veil made from silk organdies and edged with tulle and Chantilly lace flowers.
The happy couple met in 2010 in the US where Madeleine had fled after the very public break-up of her first engagement, to Swedish lawyer Jonas Bergstrom who, it is rumoured, was cheating on her.
The couple’s multi-million dollar wedding ceremony was followed by a private dinner at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, which was hosted by Madeleine’s parents, the king and queen.
The couple, who have elected to remain private citizens will not have a royal rank, and will return to New York.
