Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia of Sweden recently celebrated a significant milestone by baptizing their baby daughter, Princess Ines. The royal couple marked their tenth wedding anniversary with a special ceremony held at Drottningholm Palace Chapel. The baptism of Princess Ines, who is just 5 months old, took place on the island of Lovön near Stockholm, at the private residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
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The christening ceremony was attended by guests who started arriving at 11 a.m. local time for the noon ceremony. Baby Princess Ines was baptized by Chief Chaplain Bishop Johan Dalman and Ordinary Chaplain Michael Bjerkhagen, who is the pastor of the Royal Court Assembly. The godparents of Princess Ines were announced earlier by the Royal House of Sweden to be Princess Estelle, Tiara Larsson, Fredrik von der Esch, Claes Kockum, and Sandrine Kockum.
Princess Estelle, who is Princess Ines’ cousin, holds a special role as a godmother alongside Tiara Larsson, a goddaughter and bridesmaid of Princess Sofia, and the other godparents who are Prince Carl Philip’s longtime friends. The baptism was followed by a reception and a private lunch to commemorate this joyous occasion. Princess Ines was born on February 7, making her christening even more meaningful as it coincided with Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia’s wedding anniversary.
The royal couple, who have been married for a decade, shared previously unseen photos from their fairytale wedding day to mark the occasion. Over the years, they have expanded their family and now have three sons – Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, and Prince Julian – in addition to their newest addition, Princess Ines. The birth of Princess Ines was announced by King Carl XVI Gustaf, revealing her full name as Ines Marie Lilian Silvia along with the title of Duchess of Västerbotten.
In line with efforts to streamline the Swedish monarchy, King Carl XVI Gustaf made the decision to remove the HRH titles from Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine’s children in 2019. This decision did not impact the title status of Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel’s children, Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, who continue to hold their Royal Highness titles and are in line of succession to the throne.
The christening of Princess Ines at Drottningholm Palace Chapel was a momentous occasion for the Swedish royal family, filled with tradition and celebration. The royal couple was surrounded by family and friends as they marked this important chapter in their daughter’s life. The event also serves as a reminder of the rich history and royal traditions that endure in modern-day Sweden.