One of the family now

This time next week she will be an official princess but with seven days to go until her marriage, Sofia Hellqvist is already well and truly one of the Swedish Royal Family. On her country's national day, she has joined them in celebrations while wearing national costume. You don't get much more royal than that.

A princess in waiting among her new family - Sofia Hellqvist joins Sweden's royals on national day

Admittedly, at times, she was slightly obscured by the person who will overtake her as the newest member of Sweden's royal family within weeks of her wedding. Princess Madeleine is very pregnant and her bump was the dominant factor in the photos of the family at the Skansen outdoor celebrations where King Carl XVI Gustaf made a speech. Poor Madeleine looked pretty exhausted by the time they all made it back to the Royal Palace for a reception but while her second baby was very evident, Sofia was still the star of the show.

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Appearing for the first time with her soon to be in laws, she looked calm and confident and ready for her big close up - after all, in a week's time it will be all about Princess Sofia. Well, perhaps a little bit about Princess Estelle who is bound to steal a bit of the limelight just as she did today by starting the day off by starring in a brand new photo looking more grown up than ever before. While she stayed at home, her mum headed to Uppsala Castle for a ceremony to welcome new Swedish citizens. Crown Princess Victoria, with Prince Daniel at her side, attended the morning event and a few hours later her little brother, Prince Carl Philip, took the salute at the Royal Palace.

He's noticed the cameras - Prince Carl Philip of Sweden gets into best smiling for the birdie mode ahead of the hundreds of images that will be taken of him next week at his wedding

Meanwhile, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia spent the day in Orebro where they visited a museum and then attended a citizenship ceremony for new members of Swedish society. They also took part in National Day celebrations at the local castle before heading back to Stockholm for the evening events that were all about Sofia.

No wonder she's smiling - Queen Silvia is enjoying one of the happiest times of her life as her only son prepares to marry and she gets ready to welcome her third grandchild

In another time, Sofia's husband to be would also be a king to be but there will be no consort's crown for Miss Hellqvist and the future head of state who will lead National Days in decades to come will be her sister-in-law, Victoria, rather than her soon to be spouse. But that didn't stop the royal face of National Day 2015 being Sofia Hellqvist, the girl who will be a princess and a duchess in less than a weeks's time.  The celebrations have begun in Sweden.

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