Memorable Royal Weddings: Crown Princess Victoria & Daniel Westling

The royal wedding between Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden, and Daniel Westling took place on 19 June 2010 in Stockholm Cathedral. It has been described as “Europe’s biggest royal wedding since the Prince of Wales married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.” Westling’s style and title after the marriage is now His Royal Highness Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland.

Preparations and finances

On 17 September 2009, the cathedral parish of Stockholm announced that 12.4 million Swedish kronor would be used for a cleanup and renovation of Stockholm Cathedral during the period January–April 2010. The wedding itself cost about 20 million kronor which was paid half by the Swedish Royal Family and half by the Swedish government from tax money. This was criticized by many Swedish subjects, and Internet groups protesting against it quickly gained popularity.

Celebrations

On 24 November 2009 it was decided that the days between the Swedish national day until the wedding date on 19 June would be Love Stockholm 2010 days. With festivities for residents and visitors such as music, art, culture, food, design, and history, the city of Stockholm had hoped for sponsor deals to pay for the arrangements.

On 18 June, the Parliament of Sweden honoured the couple with a gala performance at Stockholm Concert Hall. Performers at the gala included Malena Ernman, Helen Sjöholm, and Peter Jöback. The famous Swedish band Roxette was reunited on stage, and they performed their hit song “The Look”.

Wedding service

The wedding service began at 15:30 local time in Stockholm Cathedral, with around 1,100 guests present. The music in the ceremony was headed by Gustaf Sjökvist, court organist and organist for the Cathedral Parish of Stockholm. He was also in charge of the music during the wedding of Victoria’s parents in 1976.

The service was conducted by Anders Wejryd, Archbishop of Uppsala. He was assisted by Lars-Göran Lönnermark, Royal Court Chief Chaplain, and Dr Antje Jackelén, Bishop of Lund. The Great Marriage Litany was sung by Åke Bonnier, Dean of the Cathedral and Royal Court Chaplain.

Victoria’s dress was by Swedish designer Pär Engsheden. The duchess satin white dress was with a five meter long train. The dress has a striking resemblance with Pronovias spanish designer Manuel Mota’s Chabeli from the 2010 collection. She wore the same diadem that her mother wore when she married . The first piece of music that was played was written by Karin Rehnqvist especially for the couple as a gift from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. Victoria walked down the aisle with her father, who then handed her over to Daniel. The wedding couple then stood in front of the archbishop, who told them about the importance of supporting each other in a marriage. After Victoria and Daniel were pronounced husband and wife, Swedish singers Agnes Carlsson and Björn Skifs finished the ceremony with the song “When You Tell The World You’re Mine”, written for the couple. Victoria and Daniel walked under crossed swords after stepping out of the cathedral.

A carriage procession followed the ceremony, in which the wedding couple was transported through the streets of Stockholm. On their way they passed by twenty musical bands, nineteen of which were military. Victoria and Daniel then proceeded in a royal barge over Stockholm’s waters; the same barge that was used by Victoria’s parents, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, during their wedding in 1976. 500,000 people are estimated to have gathered to watch the procession, which was nearly seven kilometers long. 18 fighter jets flew across the sky as the barge approached its landing place at the royal palace, where the wedding banquet was later held.

The wedding of Victoria and Daniel was the biggest event that has ever been covered on television in Stockholm, according to Sveriges Television.

Filed under: Royal Weddings

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