Sweden's Royal Wedding countdown begins

It started at church and ended with a guitar. The big countdown to the big royal wedding of the year is now officially underway as Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Sofia Hellqvist were joined by family and friends for a religious service marking their impending marriage before heading back to the Royal Palace to receive gifts from local communities and public organisations. Twenty nine days and counting.

Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist on the day the countdown to their wedding really got under way

(photo kungahuset.se)

The bride to be wore white, well cream with black, while the groom chose a suit and his mother and two sisters went for subtle but spectacular hats in a range of pastel shades. Sofia Hellqvist's family helped fill the most important pews on one of the most important days of her life.

The bride and groom take a practice walk down the aisle with their wedding now less than a month away

(photo kungahuset.se)

The couple arrived at the Royal Chapel just before 11am for a short service led by the Chaplin to the King, Lars-Goran Lonnermark and featuring music composed by Bach and Mozart. They sat next to Carl XVI Gustaf and his consort, Silvia, while Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine along with their husbands and daughters filled the front row.

The next generation of Sweden's Royal Family at the special service held today ahead of the marriage of Prince Carl Philip and Sofia Hellqvist

Later on, following a private lunch with their families, the prince and his fiancee were presented with gifts from the parliament, the government, diplomats and ambassadors and local communities at a reception at the Royal Palace. And they clearly didn't struggle with finding original things to give to the third in line to the throne and his wife to be - there wasn't a toaster in sight as the couple smiled for photographers showing off the paddles and the guitar they had been given. In fact, the groom looked very pleased with the Hagstrom guitar they were presented.

Prince Carl Philip already has a favourite wedding present

If Sofia Hellqvist looked a little nervous throughout the whole day then who could blame her - she is entering a whole new world and a totally different way of life. She has attended plenty of royal events in the past eleven months since her engagement was announced but this is the first time since that June day when she has been the complete centre of attention and this event is far more formal than the relaxed press call to confirm the wedding.

Sofia Hellqvist gets used to a lifetime of smiling while accepting strange presents

But it was equally clear today that Prince Carl Philip will support his fiancee through everything. He held her hand and stood by her side through it all and looked about as proud and happy as a groom can do before he's even got to his wedding. The marriage of the man who was once heir to his country's throne and the woman who might otherwise have ended up a queen promises to be a right royal spectacular.