Princess Estelle, Duchess of Östergötland

Birth

Princess Estelle was born at 04:26 CET on 23 February 2012 at the Karolinska University Hospital. The birth was greeted by two 21-gun salutes on the island Skeppsholmen, opposite the Royal Palace in the capital Stockholm. Her names and title were announced on 24 February 2012 by her maternal grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf at a cabinet meeting. After the cabinet meeting, a Te Deum was held in the palace's royal chapel. Prior to the official announcement of her name and title, an error resulted in the royal website displaying the false name and title Ulrika Marianna Annika David - Duchess of Upplands Väsby which was later removed. The staff eventually revealed the reason was that they were testing the system.

Estelle was christened on 22 May 2012 at the Royal Chapel of Stockholm Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. Her godparents were her maternal uncle, Prince Carl Philip of Sweden; her paternal aunt, Anna Westling-Söderström; Willem-Alexander, the then-Prince of Orange; Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (for whom she was given her fourth name); and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. She was christened in the family's antique christening gown which was first worn by Prince Gustaf Adolf when he was christened in 1906. Her name and date of christening was added in embroidery to the gown. On the date of the christening, a limited-edition prayer book titled Princess Estelle's Prayerbook (Swedish: Prinsessan Estelles bönbok) was released and published.

Princess Estelle is second in the line of succession to the Swedish throne. Princess Estelle is the first female in Swedish history to be born with a right to inherit the crown that cannot be superseded by the birth of a male heir, as well as the first person in Swedish history to be born of a female heir apparent. The only two princesses of Sweden to be born first in line for the throne were heir presumptive at their birth: Christina (who eventually became queen regnant) and Hedwig Sophia (who was superseded by a younger brother).

Education and royal functions

As second in line to the Swedish throne, Princess Estelle has been in the public eye since birth. On 17 May 2014, two-year-old Princess Estelle inaugurated a fairytale path, named in her honour as "Duchess Estelle's Fairytale Path" in Tåkern, Östergötland. At the time of her christening, she was presented with a miniature swan and certificate to the trail indicating that in the future she would perform official engagements there. She also visited Linköping Castle, where she was received by Elisabeth Nilsson, Kristina Zetterström and Ann-Catrine Hjerdt, the mayor of Linköping.

On 25 August 2014, Princess Estelle started preschool at Äventyret Preschool in Danderyd Municipality, Stockholm.

Titles and styles

Estelle is styled as: Her Royal Highness Princess Estelle of Sweden, Duchess of Östergötland.

Swedish appointments and honours