Royal baby alert: Sweden's Princess Madeleine expecting a child
Another royal baby is on the way, according to Sweden鈥檚 Royal Palace, which announced today that Princess聽Madeleine聽and her husband, New York banker Christopher O'Neill, are expecting their first child in March.
Madeleine, the younger sister of Crown聽Princess聽Victoria, is third in line to the Swedish throne.
She and Mr. O'Neill were married in Stockholm in June, following an eight-month engagement.
O'Neill was born in聽London聽and holds dual American and British citizenship, according to a CV released by the royal palace. He studied at a boarding school in St. Gallen,聽Switzerland, and holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from聽Boston University聽and a master's degree from Columbia Business School聽in New York.
O'Neill now works as a partner and head of research at Noster Capital, a hedge fund with offices in London and New York. His interests include Alpine skiing, tennis, golf, music, literature and聽Chelsea Football Club聽in London, the palace said.
Public support for the ceremonial monarchy has weakened somewhat in recent years but remains fairly broad in otherwise egalitarian聽Sweden.
The wedding in 2010 of聽Madeleine's eldest sibling, Crown Princess聽Victoria, to聽Daniel Westling聽and the birth of their daughter, Princess聽Estelle, have helped to counteract negative publicity around King聽Carl XVI聽Gustaf and Queen Silvia.
Sweden has a constitutional monarchy in which the royals primarily serve as figureheads. King Carl XVI Gustaf is the country's head of state, but his powers are limited to representative and ceremonial duties.
A book released in 2010 alleged the king had had an affair and visited strip clubs. When the book came out, he said: "I have talked with my family and the queen. We turn the page and look forward."
Madeleine has relatively few public duties. She works at a the , a children's charity founded by her mother, Queen Silvia.
The palace said Tuesday that the pregnancy would not affect聽Madeleine's聽schedule this fall, or her work for the charity.
and contributed to this report.
