Royals

Princess Madeleine of Sweden welcomes first child

Princess Madeleine of Sweden welcomes first child, a daughter, in a New York hospital
Princess Madeleine and Christopher O’Neill with baby

The firstborn child of the couple and fifth-in-line to the throne of Sweden was born two days ago. The Swedish Royal Palace released a statement saying “Both mother and child are in good health”.

The couple shared a photograph of the moment they left the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center on Facebook.

Princess Madeleine, 31, is the daughter of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia and the younger sister of Crown Princess Victoria. She is fourth in line to the throne in Sweden’s constitutional monarchy.

She looked relaxed and radiant as she left hospital with her baby two days after the birth.

O’Neill, a British-born American banker, held a press conference the day after the couple’s first child was born, saying: “She looks like her mum which is all I wanted.”

“We have ten fingers, ten toes,” he added. “And she’s got a very strong, nice roar on her.”

The proud father revealed a footprint of the baby Royal inked onto his forearm.

Of the princess, O’Neill said: “She’s a very strong woman.”

The royal birth has been celebrated across Sweden with a 21-gun salute in Stockholm and across Sweden.

The couple married in Stockholm in June last year and have called New York City home for several years where Madeleine works for the nonprofit World Childhood Foundation, founded by her mother, Queen Silvia.

They will announce the name of their baby after King Carl XVI Gustaf meets the cabinet.

Related stories