The Royal 2017: a prince is born

After a run of regal babies in recent times, 2017 was a little quiet on the nursery front. However, those lovely royals in Sweden weren't going to let the year pass without adding to their number. The House of Bernadotte welcomed a new prince as the summer came to an end. Let's celebrate the birth of Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna in the latest look back at the Royal 2017.....

The newest prince in Europe arrived at 11.24am on August 31st 2017, bringing a happy note to a day when many around the world were focused on marking the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. Gabriel's birth took many by surprise - since his parents, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia, had announced back in March 2017 that baby number two was on the way a due date of September had been expected. But their second son wasn't waiting around and arrived weighing 7lbs 7oz (3.4kg) and measuruing 49 centimetres. Proud dad Carl Philip announced the news by saying that Alexander (the couple's elder son, born in April 2016) had a little brother.

Alexander's life was changed forever the following day when his parents actually brought that noisy little brother home, posing for a photo in front of their house with their new son in his car seat. As is traditional, his names and title were announced at a special cabinet meeting hosted by his proud grandfather, King Carl XVI Gustaf. On September 4th 2017, we found out that the new sixth in line to the Swedish throne was called Gabriel Carl Walter and had been made Duke of Dalarna by his granddad.

As with all royal babies, official photos soon followed with the christening not far behind. Gabriel, Duke of Dalarna was baptised on December 1st 2017 in the Chapel of Drottningholm Palace and was carried out of his special ceremony fast asleep while snow began to fall. He will celebrate his first Christmas as the youngest member of the Swedish Royal Family but won't hold on to that role for much longer as his aunt and godmother, Princess Madeleine, is expecting her third child in March 2018. Sweden's ruling house already has good news ready for next year after welcoming a new prince in the Royal 2017.

Photos: kungahuset.se