Swedish princess weds N.Y. banker
Sweden’s Princess Mad
eleine fell in love in the Big Apple. Now she has said “yes” to New York banker Chris
topher O’Neill in a lavish and emotional wedding ceremony in Stockholm.
Madeleine, 30, wore a silk organza dress with a lace top and 13-foot trail, designed by
Valentino Garavani, when she wed British-American O’Neill on Saturday. About 470 European royals, top New York socialites and celebrities were in attendance.
O’Neill, 38, fought back tears as the princess walked down the aisle with her father, King Carl XVI Gus
taf. The bride and groom were visibly moved as the ceremony proceeded with hymns in both Swedish and English, and performances by Roxette singer Marie
Fredriksson and Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera” star
Peter Joback.
Madeleine read out the wedding vows in Swedish while O’Neill read his in English in the Royal Chapel. After the wedding, the couple kissed on the steps of the palace in front of a cheering crowd of several thousand.
Madeleine is the youngest of Carl XVI Gustaf and
Queen Silvia’s three children and fourth in line to the throne. O’Neill, who holds dual American and British citizenship, has declined a royal rank in Sweden, which would have required him to become a Swedish citizen. He has chosen to continue working and the newlyweds are expected to move back to their Manhattan apartment.