Sparkling Swedish Royal Jewels for the Christening of Princess Ines

On their tenth wedding anniversary, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia celebrated the christening of their daughter, surrounded by family—and royal jewels!—at Drottningholm Palace.

The christening of Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia’s fourth child and first daughter, Princess Ines Marie Lilian Silvia, Duchess of Västerbotten, was celebrated in the chapel at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm on Friday. The little princess, who joins three big brothers, Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel, and Prince Julian, was surrounded by family members during the christening, which was celebrated by Bishop Johan Dalman and the royal chaplain, Michael Bjerkhagen. The event was attended by Ines’s royal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as her grandparents and family members on the Hellqvist side of the family. 

During the christening, a miniature version of the insignia of the Order of the Seraphim was presented to Ines by her grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf. One of the Swedish royal crowns—Princess Sofia Albertina’s crown, I think—was also prominently displayed during the ceremony. In this photograph, the little princess and her parents are surrounded by her godparents. The roster included four friends of the royal couple, as well as an important member of the royal family: Ines’s cousin, Princess Estelle, who served as a godmother for the first time on this occasion. As a future Crown Princess and Queen of Sweden, Estelle will surely play this role numerous times in the future, just like her mother.

Princess Ines wore a special christening gown that has been used for family baptisms for more than a century. The gown, made in 1906, was first used for the christening of Prince Gustaf Adolf, the first child of King Gustaf VI Adolf and Princess Margaret of Connaught. The same gown was also worn by the prince’s siblings, including Queen Ingrid of Denmark, as well as his five children, including King Carl XVI Gustaf. All of the King and Queen’s children and grandchildren have worn the christening gown as well.

Prince Carl Philip was in uniform for the christening, and Princess Sofia wore sunny yellow for the occasion. On her dress, she pinned the King’s Royal Family Order, and she wore a special pair of diamond earrings from the royal vaults. The petite diamond drops were originally part of a stomacher worn by the King’s great-grandmother, Queen Victoria of Sweden.

The earrings are also a lovely throwback to the glittering royal wedding of ten years ago. Sofia wore the same diamond earrings on her wedding day, pairing them with a diamond and emerald tiara given to her by the King and Queen as a wedding present.

There were several more pieces of important and interesting royal jewelry on display on the extended members of the family. The King and Queen’s entire family were in attendance: Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel with Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar, and Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill with Princess Leonore, Prince Nicolas, and Princess Adrienne. The King’s sister, Princess Christina, also attended with her husband, Tord Magnuson.

For the event, Queen Silvia wore a jacket with a lovely floral pattern in shades of cream and green, paired with cream-colored trousers and a coordinating headpiece. The King’s Royal Family Order was also pinned to the jacket.

Silvia accessorized with diamonds and pearls: diamond and pearl drop earrings from the family collection and a single strand of multi-colored pearls. She also pinned one of the family’s classic diamond bow brooches on the collar of her jacket.

Crown Princess Victoria wore a floral dress with her father’s Royal Family Order and a blue floral headpiece. She also added a favorite pair of earrings from her jewelry box, which feature white pearls set in a diamond cluster resembling floral petals.

Thirteen-year-old Princess Estelle played an important role during Friday’s service, but her clothing and jewelry was still age appropriate. She wore a blush-colored dress with a petite white floral print, paired with heart-shaped diamond earrings and a necklace with a small pendant. In some photographs, the pendant peeks out, and it appears to me to be a small Van Cleef & Arpels piece.

Princess Madeleine wore a purple dress with a matching headband and veil for her niece’s christening, with her father’s Royal Family Order pinned at her shoulder. She stacked diamond and gold bracelets on her wrists, but her primary accessory was a pair of major pink floral statement earrings. Beside her, Princess Leonore also wears several small jewelry pieces: earrings, necklace, bracelet, ring.

Princess Christina, the baby’s great-aunt, opted for black and white for the event. She carried the color theme through to her jewelry, wearing white pearls and black beads. (In front of her, the Alhambra pendant on Princess Estelle’s necklace is more visible.)

Here’s a group photograph of the Bernadottes and the Hellqvists, taken on the steps of the palace after the christening, with Princess Estelle standing with Ines’s godparents, and the rest of the royal grandchildren assembled on the steps below the group.