A future princess in the palace

The official photos marking the engagement of Prince Carl Philip of Sweden have been released and they feature the happy couple in one of the state rooms of the Drottningholm Palace.  The images, organised quickly after the prince's surprise proposal on Friday morning, show the bride and groom to be holding hands and beaming with happiness.  And then, for Sofia, it's an introduction to real royal life as her future in laws move into shot.

The King and Queen of Sweden with their only son, Carl Philip, and his fiancee, Sofia Hellqvist, on the day of their engagement, June 27th 2014

King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia pose with their son and his wife to be amid the splendour of one of the most historic palaces in Sweden.  Sofia has been a part of royal life for four years, but always on the edges and in the shadows, arriving at official events by herself and waiting to meet her prince behind closed doors.  Off duty, the couple have been seen together on many occasions but royal life, until now, has been Carl Philip's job and apart from their world together most of the time.  But on June 27th 2014, Sofia stepped into the royal spotlight and entered a palace as a princess in waiting for the first time.  Here comes the bride - and a new chapter in Sweden's royal history.