The princes of Sweden

They're a rare breed and normally outnumbered by their female counterparts but for one night only, the princes of Sweden were the stars at Stockholm's Royal Palace.  Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip were on hand to help the king and queen host a gala dinner for a wide range of people from all walks of Swedish life and for once, there were were more princes than princesses on parade.

Boys' night out - Prince Daniel and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden at a gala dinner in Stockholm

Crown Princess Victoria is on a tour of Africa while Princess Estelle, although already well schooled in public engagements at the tender age of two and a bit, was safely tucked up in her nursery.  And Princess Madeleine is in New York where she gave birth to Sweden's other princess, Leonore, just over a month ago.  The only princess to be seen last night was the king's sister, Princess Christina.

Christina had the princess category all to herself at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on March 19th

The Swedish Royal House is dominated by women with the line of succession made up of four princesses and just one prince.  Usually gala events are awash with princesses so it's rare to see the husband and brother of the Crown Princess centre stage. But it won't last long.  Madeleine will be bringing her little girl to Stockholm for her christening and some European papers are now talking about another princess joining the fold soon - it's reported that an engagement between Carl Philip and his girlfriend, Sofia Hellqvist, is imminent.  This could be the only chance the two princes of Sweden will have for years to take the limelight.  Let's hope they enjoyed it.

For once, the royal men outnumber the women in Stockholm as King Carl XVI Gustaf leads his family in greeting guests at a gala dinner at the Royal Palace