Ahead of Princess Ines’s baptism, we are looking back at the christening of Princess Ines’s brothers – Princes Alexander, Gabriel and Julian of Sweden.
Each of her brothers was christened in the Royal Chapel of Drottningholm Palace in the Swedish Royal Family’s antique christening gown, and their names and christening dates were sewn in the cape after the service. Water from a spring on the island of Öland was used in the baptism.
Prince Alexander was christened at four months old in a 35-minute service conducted by Archbishop Antje Jackelén in September 2016. The little royal did not cry throughout his christening, but his cousin, Princess Leonore, caught everyone’s attention with her stuffed bunny. The ceremony was concluded with a 21-gun salute.
Crown Princess Victoria, paternal aunt; Lina Frejd, maternal aunt; Victor Magnuson, paternal cousin; Jan-Åke Hansson, father’s friend; and Cajsa Larsson, mother’s friend, were named as godparents. He was presented with his Order of the Seraphim sash during the ceremony by his grandfather, King Carl Gustaf.
Prince Alexander with his grandfather. Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/The Royal Court of Sweden
Prince Gabriel’s christening took place on 1 December 2017, with his mother donning a traditional folk costume with ties to his duchy of Dalarna, where Sofia grew up. His godparents were Princess Madeleine (paternal aunt), Sara Hellqvist (maternal aunt), Thomas de Toledo Sommerlath (paternal cousin), and Carolina Pihl and Oscar Kylberg (friends of his parents).
Archbishop Emeritus Anders Wejryd baptised the crying prince, and young Prince Alexander took a tumble during the ceremony. As with tradition, a lunch and reception were held after the ceremony at the palace. Unlike his older brother’s christening, his only cousins in attendance were Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/The Royal Court of Sweden
Prince Julian’s christening took place in August 2021, but unlike those of his siblings and older cousins, his baptism was not aired live on SVT. Instead, highlights were played by SVT after the service. The blessing was conducted by Bishop Johan Dalman and Pastor Michael Bjerkhagen.
His godparents were named as Johan Andersson, Stina Andersson, Jacob Högfeldt, Patrick Sommerlath (paternal cousin) and Frida Vesterberg (friend of Sofia and co-founder of Project Playground). A family photo outside the Royal Chapel was taken featuring the Hellqvist family and the Royal Family.
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/The Royal Court of Sweden
Official photos of each christening were released in the days following the ceremonies.
Princess Ines will be christened on her parents’ 10th wedding anniversary on 13 June in the Royal Chapel of Drottningholm Palace.
Leave a comment