Swedish Royal Birth in New York City

The Swedish Royal Court announced early this morning that Princess Madeleine the evening before, at 10.41 p.m. (local time), at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York City, USA, had given birth to a girl. Princess Madeleine, the youngest child of King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, has been married to Christopher O'Neill since June 2013. The pregnancy was announced on 3 September 2013.

According to another press statement released later the same morning, both mother and child are in good health and Mr Christopher O’Neill was present at the hospital throughout the birth. The birth was marked by a 21-gun salute at noon today. The names and titles of the baby girl, who was born into this world as no. 5 in the line of succession to the Swedish throne, will be announced in a cabinet meeting, probably early next week (no date has been set yet). The Royal Court's solicitor informed last fall that Princess Madeleine's child woult be titled, so it would be rather surprising if the king in the meantime has changed his mind.

Chris O'Neill told in a press meeting tonight that baby girl has got five names, which might be somewhat surprising, considering that the newborn's grandfather as well as Crown Princess Victoria, Princess Estelle, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine all received four names "only". On the other hand, King Carl Gustaf's sisters all got three names, so the "four names tradition" is far from being deep-rooted. And if we go back to the king's father's generation, Prince Gustaf Adolf had six names, the then Prince Sigvard three, Princess Ingrid (later Queen Ingrid of Denmark) five, Prince Bertil also five and the then Prince Carl Johan only three.

According to the information given at the press meeting, the newborn princess weighed 3150 grams and measured 50 cm. She looked like her mother, O'Neill said, and had brown hair and dark brown eyes.

It will of course be interesting to hear the names the parents have chosen. After the announcement of Princess Estelle's call name, I am not sure if I will take the chance to make a guess. But as I have said on similar occasions before, I would love a tradtional royal name or at least a name with Swedish/Norse roots, but Princess Madeleine and Chris ONeill might have opted for a more "modern" and trendy call name. Katharina Leibring at the Department of Scandinavian Languages at Uppsala University, who has researched personal names traditions, finds it hard to imagine "something like Hjördis", a comment I thought was rather amusing. According to the Dagens Nyheter article, Elouise and Desirée are the betting companies' favourites.

The Royal Court has informed that a Te Deum thanksgiving service will take place on 2 March in the Royal Chapel at the Royal Palace of Stockholm.

UK: Zara and Mike Tindall name their daughter Mia Grace

The press secretary to the British Queen Elizabeth II announced last Friday, 17 January 2014, the birth of Zara and Mike Tindall's first child:

Mrs Michael Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. Mr Tindall was present at the birth. The weight of the baby was 7lbs 12oz.

The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike’s parents, Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news. The baby’s name will be confirmed in due course.

This baby is the first child for Zara and Mike, the third grandchild for The Princess Royal and the fourth great-grandchild for The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh, and is 16th line to the Throne.

Zara Tindall, née Phillips, is the daughter of the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) and Mark Phillips and thus a grandchild of Queen Elizabeth. Today it was revealed that the baby girl, who is the Queen's fourth great-grandchild, has been named Mia Grace Tindall. According to the Daily Telegraph the name has no royal or family connections. The former would of course have been nice, but considering Zara's commoner status, it is not too important. It is a nice name, nevertheless.

The proud parents married at Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh, Scotland on 30 July 2011. The pregnancy was announced on 8 July 2013.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway's 10th birthday

(All photos: Sølve Sundsbø, Det kongelige hoff/The Royal Court.)

In connection with Princess Ingrid Alexandra's 10th birthday today (21 January 2014), the Norwegian Royal Court released three photos taken last year. The birthday was celebrated privately at the Skaugum estate in Asker.

Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 2nd in line of succession to the Norwegian throne, was born at Rikshospitalet (the National Hospital) in Oslo on Wednesday 21 January 2004 at 9.13 a.m. Her name was formally announced by the Crown Prince Regent in an extraordinary Council of State on 22 January 2004:

«It is a great pleasure to inform that the Crown Princess and I have got a daughter. The birth took place on Wednesday 21 January 2004 at 09:13.

After consultation with His Majesty The King we have decided that she will be named Her Royal Highness Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and I will ask for the state council's endorsement.

With the Council of State's acceptance the name and time of birth will be communicated to the 148th Storting today in accordance with the Constitution Art. 6.»

Princess Ingrid Alexandra's birthday became an official flag-flying day by royal resolution of 3 December 2004 No. 1542, which came into force on 1 January 2005.  21 January was, by the way, an official flag-flying day until 1905, as it was also King Oscar II of Norway and Sweden's birthday.

But while Princess Ingrid Alexandra's birth was marked by a salute from the fortresses around the country, there was no salute to mark her birthday today, as News and Views from Norway/NRK wants us to believe. According to the salute regulations, a salute (21 shots) are fired on the birthdays of the members of the royal house who have reached the age of majority (18 years). So Princess Ingrid Alexandra will have to wait until 2022.

Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg to become parents in June 2014

The Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today, 14 January 2014, that Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg are expecting their first child in June this year.

Princess Félix, the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, married Claire Ladebacher on 17 September 2013 (civ.) in Königstein in Taunus, Germany and on 21 September 2013 (rel.) in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France. The couple lives in Lourges, France.

The future royal baby, who will be third in line to the Grand-Ducal throne, will be the third grandchild of the Grand Ducal couple. Prince Félix' younger brother Prince Louis and his wife Princess Tessy have the boys Prince Gabriel (b. 2006) and Prince Noah (b. 2007).

See also Wort.lu and Luxarazzi.

Swedish royal baby to be born in New York City

The Swedish Royal Court issued the following press statement today:

Information regarding Princess Madeleine
After careful consideration and in consultation with Their Majesties, Princess Madeleine and Mr. Christopher O'Neill have decided that their child will be born in New York City. The birth is expected to take place in late February 2014.  

Princess Madeleine and Mr. O'Neill kindly ask the media to respect their wish for privacy during this very special and joyous time.

Further information will be provided in due course.

Svante Lindqvist
Marshal of the Realm

The court has earlier confirmed that the royal baby is a girl and that she will be titled Princess with the style of Royal Highness.

Updated on Saturday 11 January 2014 at 18:45.

HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway to undergo surgery

The Royal Court in Oslo issued the following press statement earlier today concerning HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit's health situation:

Will undergo surgery

Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit needs to have a surgery on her neck to remove the herniated disc and alleviate pressure on the nerves.

13.11.2013

The Crown Princess’s doctors have recommended for medical reasons that this surgery should be performed as soon as possible. The Crown Princess will therefore undergo the procedure at Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet this week, after which she will spend several days in hospital.

Following a period of recuperation, the Crown Princess will embark on a rehabilitation programme. It is too early to determine whether her sick leave will need to be extended. His Royal Highness The Crown Prince is therefore cancelling his scheduled visit to Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

The Crown Princess has been on sick leave since early October and it was extended until well into December.

See also Views and News from Norway 8 October, 21 October and 13 November 2013.

A break from blogging

I have just returned from a nice stay in Malta, which I hope to write about later on. But for the next few weeks I will need to take a break from blogging as well as from updating my website Hoelseth.com, as the process of moving will take up most of my time. I might be able to write two, three articles in the period after my current apartment has been sold and before moving into the new (row) house, but it is difficult to plan anything ahead right now. It might be good with a break anyway. My new address will, by the way, still be in Østensjø borough in Oslo.

During the next couple of months I will also make two exciting trips abroad (decided before the new house was bought) - one to Minsk, Belarus and one to Norwich, England. I have of course visited "the Fine City" in England numerous times, but this year the Norwich City Supporters' Club of Scandinavia celebrates its 30th anniversary, and the occasion will be marked among others with a football match and an anniversary dinner. I am sure both trips will provide opportunities for blogging at a later stage.