On the day of Princess Ines of Sweden’s christening, we take a look at Drottningholm Palace.
Drottningholm Palace has been the site of royal births, weddings and christenings, and it has been the private residence of the Royal Family since 1981. As such, the Swedish military guards the palace right outside Stockholm.
Drottningholm Palace is located on an island in Lake Mälaren and was influenced by French architecture. Architect Nicodemus Tessin the Elder constructed the building at the request of Queen Hedvig Eleonora in the 1600s.
Hedvig Eleonora’s State Bedchamber. Photo: Lisa Raihle Rehbäck The Royal Court
The palace was used for hunting during the reigns of Charles XI and Charles XII and was the summer residence of Hedvig Eleonora until her death. It wasn’t until the 18th century that it became the summer home of the Royal Family.
In the 19th century, Charles XIV John, the founder of the current Bernadotte dynasty, abandoned the home to cut ties with Sweden’s previous royal dynasty. It was then opened to the public.
Lovisa Ulrikas Library. Photo: Alexis Daflos/Kungl. Hovstaterna
The mid-1800s saw repairs and refurbishments to allow the building to be used for public celebrations. King Oscar I faced heavy criticism for the modernisation, but by the reign of Gustaf V in the early 1900s, another renovation took place. This time, to return the palace to its former glory.
Outside the main palace, one of the most recognisable places on the estate is the Royal Chapel, which has hosted royal wedding celebrations and christenings in recent memory. Princess Madeleine, who was born at Drottningholm, chose to host her wedding reception at the palace in 2013. She and her husband, Chris O’Neill, christened their three children there, as well (Princess Leonore in 2014, Prince Nicolas in 2015 and Princess Adrienne in 2018). Likewise, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia christened their three sons there (Prince Alexander in 2016, Prince Gabriel in 2017 and Prince Julian in 2021). Princess Ines will join their ranks today with her own baptism.
The Royal Chapel during Prince Nicolas’s christening. Photo: The Royal Court of Sweden
Drottningholm Palace boasts many attractions, including the Chinese Pavilion, theatre, gardens, chapel, museum, as well as exhibits open for the public to see year-round. Only the rooms in the southern wing – the private home of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia – are closed to the public.
Not surprisingly, Drottningholm is a very popular tourist attraction in Sweden. To take a tour, visit the website of the royal palaces here.
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